I just want to give a big thumbs up, high five, and peace sign to Betty Ford. She has more than stood the test of time and come out ahead. She is the best.

Mercury in Retrograde?

Whatever. My DSL modem bit the dust, TV quit receiving signal, and I fell and scraped my palm.

It could be so much worse. Funny how it happens in clusters though.

I took Bella's mama for a ride out in the desert yesterday and enjoyed watching Bella move. When we got to a piddling puddle of a lake where the cattle still get a drink, Bella rolled down in it over and over. Then got out and rolled in the dirt until she looked like a muddy little boy. I chose not to rinse her off once we got home even though she smells like cow dung. That mud-bath must be good for her hide and she seemed quite proud of herself.

I got a new modem today and "initialized" it myself after reading the booklet in Spanish. It's getting easier.

Oh dear. A Hello Kitty toaster. Kitchen bling, I guess. Target was practically giving them away yesterday but I still couldn't buy one. Don't need it, don't want it, don't want to put it in my kitchen.

I did watch Wordplay last night and loved it. I hear Will Shorts, the puzzle master, on NPR almost every Sunday morning with Leanne Hanson.

Christmas Visits

I'm almost done with all my traveling, visiting, cooking, eating, buying. I just need to get back home now and get a good night's sleep.

I'm not very good without a fast computer connection and short sleeved shirts. Funny how quickly I became accustomed to high speed and am appalled that dial-up is still around. I also don't care for this frost warning business or worrying about snow in the higher elevations.

I'm really missing my little Bella, too. I bought a small 25 lb. bag of flax seed and will start incorporating a little into her diet. Has anyone else ever fed their horse flax seed? I think I need to grind it in the coffee grinder or soak it in a little warm water.

Check it out

Floyd didn't know I had my camera at the ready.

Chester is one of those tigers with a white bib and Nancy Sinatra white boots on his back paws. He has let me be his mother for 10+ years. We put some excitement in his life when we brought Floyd home. Floyd is a typical plain-jane tiger with very little white except right under his chin. Chester knows he is a cat, Floyd does not. Overall they are very close buddies even though their personalities are so different.

One of my last trips back to the states I brought back a water fountain for them. Chester is a very good drinker but he is also pretty picky about the water vessel. It really needs to be a topped-off cup of water right out of the faucet in the bathroom (right! faucet water in Mexico) and nice and cold. He doesn't trust this new fangled fountain at all. It hums and it worries him. He would even prefer drinking the excess water under the potted plant. Floyd on the other hand has tried this $50 cat dish a few times and is pretty unimpressed. I think he's probably using it in the middle of the night when I'm not looking.

With the weather so cool at night now it seems I have a herd of cats in bed with me. When my husband snores, I believe the cats think he is purring loudly which means, "Come on to bed." And they do. So I have 3 guys tucked up against my hot flash body and everybody is purring while I try to untuck and stick arms and legs out into the cool air. It's so much fun...

65th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Merely 2 days before Pearl Harbor Day our bay is loaded with pelicans dive-bombing the minnows. Many more are on large, gliding circles as they spy-plane for the Kamikazes. It gives me time to reflect as I watch them splash down.

I have two old friends, one of Swedish decent, the other of Japanese decent. Both are from many, many generations of Americans. These girls never fail to call each other on Pearl Harbor Day and blow air-kisses to each other.

Have you ever been to the Pearl Harbor Memorial? It's pretty amazing and I hope you have a chance to see it someday. It's built right on top of the sunk USS Arizona. It's eerie and yet lovely. When you book that lavish trip to Hawaii be sure to add in a half day for a visit to this memorial.

The water in the bay went from 90 to 70 in a blink of an eye. Two wet-suited snorkelers were enjoying the views down under and diving for morsels. We must be in for a great full moon today or tomorrow because the tides are ultra low. I love tide charts *Stop Yawning* and figuring out the best time to tide pool.

My First Horse

She was considered a "grade mare" or even a funny looking stage-coach horse by the other barn girls. We all decided she was a cross between a Belgian and a Quarter Horse. I didn't care what she was. I just wanted to be with her as much, as often, and as long as I could. I laughed along with my girlfriends as she extended her trot and refused to break into a nice collected canter. It tickled me to pieces that she would stand calmly as we girls talked our teen aged gossip and their thoroughbreds fidgeted and balked. Holly would do just about anything I asked, and I asked her to perform more like a $1000 horse than a $100 auction horse. She was a field horse, not a barn beauty. She was sound as a dollar and there were only two times we asked the vet to look at her. The first was when we pulled a 4 inch rusty nail out of her right fore and the second was when we asked the vet to stick his arm all the way into her to find out if she was pregnant. The nail produced no after effects and the pregnancy test produced a black filly some months later.
Holly jumped everything I pointed her at, and with her big gullumping stride we covered lots of ground in the hunt field. The one hunt class I entered her in was a disappointment due to 8 of us going clean and only 7 ribbons presented. It was beyond the judge to give us a nod as all the expensive horses circled around at the trot. We were the one team excused. It certainly wasn't Holly's fault, or even mine. We had practiced and practiced. It was more a sign of the times where the long and lovely horses were worshipped and the warm bloods were still considered plough horses.
To consider selling Holly to upgrade to a fancy horse was never a possibility, financially or emotionally. Holly was my horse. She was MY horse. I was her girl. We ate lunch together, her grazing on fresh spring grass while I sat backwards and used her big butt to spread out my sandwich and chips.
I learned some valuable life lessons with this mare. I learned alot about myself. She probably taught me more about patience than anything else in my life ever did. And she taught me to know that the nicest looking horse in the barn isn't necessarily the best.

We were just gone a couple of days for Thanksgiving and were welcomed back this morning. I know, Again with the Sunrises?!!

I didn't have enough turkey and so will have to make one myself. I love a turkey dinner almost as much as a meatloaf dinner. Comfort food abounds.

Both of these lovely mares have passed on this year. Both were first horses for these lucky women on their backs. I think you might be able to see how comfortable they all are by the good seat position and tail set. The women loved and cared deeply for their mares and in return both got back total trust and loyality. It's never easy, but seems especially hard when such an honest partner in life is gone. Yesterday was our day to say good-bye to Champagne and the loss is felt by so many.

Hip Hop/Rap

Can anyone help me with a song title and/or who the singer is? I only know a couple of the words but find the song pretty catchy and would like to add it to my iPod. There is something about a Supermodel and being built like a Coke bottle and then a lot of heavy breathing. I think. That might be in another song. I've heard the song maybe 4-5 times and have never heard the title. I've tried iTunes for help but still haven't come up with the right song.
Thanks.

Baby's First Daylight

See how little they are? Fa Goodness Sakes. I'm pleased as punch to see my little bananas out in the open.

I'm sure sorry if this is boring you to tears, but as a new fruity mother I just can't help sharing each and every new stage in development. (My daughter would die at all this but she doesn't know about this blog. Ha)

Sunday Sunrise Buffet

Long before sunrise today the fishermen were out in our bay. Seems they were successful due to the pelicans interest in the goings on.

Bananas

Can you see that pod hanging in the shade? I think my banana is about to have bananas. I'm so proud. It has been putting out leaves all summer and finally, after thinking it was not able to produce, here comes a pod. We'll see if I ever really succeed in getting something to peel and put on my cereal.

Ta Duh

I'm so proud of the voters of America for stepping up, for punching those chads all the way through, for somehow not letting the other side bully them out of their own decisions this time.

I figure the next scandel will be a Democrat doing something immoral. It's their turn, afterall. But I sincerely hope it isn't something scary and nasty but is instead something involving cash.

Damn it. See?

Profoundly anti-gay.

It gives me such a sick feeling to hear that anti-gay marriage venom, and I barely feel better about him getting caught because it's all so obvious.

I have gay girlfriends and boyfriends that have been in their long-term relationships for many years. I love them and I want to protect them from this kind of nastiness, but alas it is so much bigger than me.

Hasn't this been an interesting week with Halloween smack in the way on boring old Tuesday!? The Mexican kids have figured this scam out and dressed up in outfits and make-up, and ran the neighborhood yelling "Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!" ringing doorbells and otherwise acting like sugarloaded Spidermen and Princesses. I did my part of trying to explain that "trick-or-treat" was the correct way of begging candy but it seemed to fall on deaf ears since this "Halloween" yelling got results in the past.

I have wonderful memories of running my own neighborhood, receiving candy and crushing flowerbeds, and ending up with muddy shoes, grocery-store bags half loaded, and a pleased feeling that I could sustain myself on this loot for weeks!

Upwards and onwards to Thanksgiving.

Yea, I know. That was this morning.

I'm quite happy to be home.

I finally got off of jury duty after an exasperating day at the courthouse. I was juror #6 for hours until someone noticed my bored body-language and I got excused at the eleventh hour. I had stomach cramps for 2 days from the stress.

I went to Marie Antoinette yesterday after several days of playing with Barbie and Susan. I loved the movie, can't wait to buy the soundtrack, and drooled over the horses. It's getting mixed reviews, but I give it a thumbs up. Marie was 14 years old when she was sent off to France to marry one of those Louis'!

Uh oh. Dark chocolate and white chocolate have joined the family along with the Megas.

Yesterday I drove 700 miles. I had to get back up to the US of A due to a Jury Duty summons. Living almost full time in Mexico didn't get me a free pass to ignore my obligations if I still wanted to vote, since I do have a house on the Otro Lado (other side.) So I drove forever and had plenty of time to think. At the US border my line was very slow due to someone ahead of me trying to smuggle in drugs. Out came the German Shepards and many officials. Within moments the dog found a huge bag filled to the brim with something meth or coke related, I guess. That's all I saw as I finally got through. Duh. Looks like someone forgot to mention that wheelwells don't make good hiding places anymore. Silly people. I have even seen the border guards check tire pressure in case someone is smart/dumb enough to stash their stash inside the tires.
Ok. Now, this morning I was starving since my larder in my almost abandoned house is empty. So off I went to a huge breakfast. Sitting alone in a restaurant isn't so bad, but being a woman alone in a Southern California restaurant with a large plate of food that is being enjoyed is very foreign. The clichés are so true. But let me tell you what I was really thinking about. The facial surgery. As I waddle back to my car with too much flesh under my chin and a full belly, I notice complexions pure as snow on sculpted cheek bones. And, I wondered if they had come down to Mexico for the cheap medical care.

50 Things About Me That You Never Wanted To Know

1. I have flown from California to Egypt without a husband or sister to lead me
2. I have jumped a horse over a three foot fence, bareback, and with hands in the air
3. I have ridden a horse in a parade
4. I have waterskied on lakes on both sides of the country
5. I have helped hatch loggerhead turtles
6. I have jogged in Central Park
7. I have run in a handful of 10k's
8. I have eaten loquats up in the tree
9. I have ridden my bike without hands
10. I have had my appendex out after it ruptured
11. I have driven through the desert without air conditioning in 120 degrees
12. I have lived with both a horse and a pony
13. I have ridden that pony like a little mountain goat up and down hills
14. I have body surfed for hours
15. I have ridden the commuter train up to San Francisco
16. I have been to the Kentucky Derby
17. I have ridden a bus under the Suez Canal
18. I have driven across the country many times
19. I have been on a ferry
20. I have gambled in Las Vegas
21. I have parted my hair on the left side my whole life
22. I have ridden a camel out past the pyramids of Giza
23. I have french braided my daughter's hair
24. I have snorkeled in the Red Sea
25. I have eaten lunch in the space needle
26. I have held my mother's hand while she died
27. I have cried over the loss of her for over 17 years
28. I have helped a cat give birth
29. I have drank beer in the Hofbrau Haus in Munich
30. I have cross country skied
31. I have been to Yosemite
32. I have become allergic to shrimp
33. I have seen Niagra Falls
34. I have been backstage at a Grateful Dead's concert
35. I have killed a rattlesnake
36. I have eaten grapefruit right off the tree
37. I have seen Old Faithful
38. I have had a Compuserve account
39. I have seen Elizabeth Taylor in person
40. I have always considered spaghetti to be my favority all time food
41. I have been to the very spot where Caesar was killed
42. I have cried at my daughter's wedding
43. I have cooked chili the same way for 40 years
44. I have taken my niece on a trip as her graduation present
45. I have drag raced on a street with my Nissan Maxima wagon and won
46. I have smoked dope in Amsterdam
47. I have laughed so hard I cried with my friends
48. I have studied Chemistry
49. I have played cello duets with my Aunt
50. I have been to Luxembourg

If you beg me to I might come up with 50 more trival pursuits.

Taking Temperatures

I just hung up a new thermometer. It will tell me just how happy or unhappy I am.

My neighbors arrived back from a 4 month leave to their other home in California. In their absence I fed their darling little wild cat every morning. Lupita considered me a decent substitute for her adopted people and we became fast friends. If it was too hot, I made sure the food bowl was put in the shade so she could eat in relative comfort. During our several hurricanes she found a dry spot somewhere while I had to ford the streams running down our street to go check on her. Both cat and food made out fine. She let me pick her up and expected it everyday, rubbing my legs until I would bend down and scoop her onto my shoulder. I went over to her house this morning to return the gate opener, and there she was talking to me about how her other humans had returned.

So her humans came back bearing gifts of thanks for tending their little girl. And now I can tell just how deeply I can suck in air. This morning I have the Air Conditioner off and doors open to the sea. The salt air and the lapping waves are some of my very best friends. The wonderful salty/low tide smell must have been what I drew in on my very first breath on earth. There is truly something wonderful in my old primal brain that happens when I get it.

My horoscope for today:

Normally your motto is 'Instant gratification takes too long,' but the stars send a mellowing influence your way. Now you're asking yourself, what's the rush? Right on! Enjoy this placid, peaceful energy.

Me? In a hurry? Not today.

It's an epidemic. I can't even imagine what this is that is happening to our grown-ups. Maybe it's an exponential multiplier starting with the few back in oh 1920, or so, and growing out of anyone's unbelievable imaginations. Naturally it has always been such a hush-hush subject. Uncle Jack and his roving hand. The priests and their so-called celibacy.

I suppose most girls/women I know have had at a bare minimum an odd breast brush by an old man just like he didn't mean to. Or maybe a quick kiss that wasn't expected. Little girls and old men. Or little boys and old men. Guess what, old men! It's disgusting. It's not appreciated or enjoyed and causes scars in the children. The actual fondling and having intercourse with little kids is not only scaring that never heals totally but also causes revoltion at the memory for the rest of their lives.

Has it always been this bad?

Progressive Sunrise Pictures

This morning is really quite pretty and almost getting cooler. I stepped outside to see what the cats were doing and was met by 79 degrees of fresh air. 79, not a typo. That's cool for us. I'm telling you how badly I've suffered through the summer with all that air conditioning. Within the next few weeks we should be sleeping with air off and windows open. It's worth waiting for. Listening to the lapping water is so lovely to sleep to.

I love how the sunrise changes the color of the water. It looks like melted copper. If I ever figure out how to post a link to YouTube, I'll try a video so you can see the melted copper turn into waves.

Never underestimate the value of running water. Tap water. How did my ancestors survive with just pitchers and basins? I kind of think I have a hand washing OCD, rather minor, but hard to control when my hands feel sticky. I'm fine around horses where my hands are constantly dusty, grimy, sweaty. But as soon as I hit the house I'm washing. Soap and water.

So we went without running water for 48 hours while some water main to the city was whatever...replaced, moved, something that made them turn the town off. Oh how I suffered. Can you feel my pain? We were down to washing with bottled drinking water. I was extremely conscious of every time I had to get my hands clean NOW! It's a problem.

At least I don't have an issue with rechecking light switches and locked doors and coffee pots. (Thank God for the automatic turn off switch in the Krups!) There's surely other issues I'm not copping to or consciously admitting to myself.

I could sure use a piece of pizza right about now. When Barbie and Sybil were here they made such a wonderful pizza for me. I may have to go scrounge one up. Any good ideas of what I should put on it? I like almost everything. I just about inhale Hawaiian style pizza. I can't remember chewing the salty sweetness of ham and pineapple combined. It goes right over my tongue as fast as I can get it into my stomach.
Time for lunch!

Sonora is standing next to her mother, Pony, in this quick snapshot. It's truly unbelieveable to see this little 3 month old foal growing like a weed and filling out and building muscle. I completely give credit to the grass out in the desert. Also, having more than just a paddock to explore has got to make a difference in muscle and brain development, and bone growth. Pony gave birth to Sonora on June 14.
My Bella is now a year and a half old. Her mother is Pony and her father is an incredibly beautiful Andalusian. Her eye is what artists try to achieve. She was born on March 17, 2005. Notice how green the desert is behind her.
It took me all of 5 minutes to fall in love with her and 2 1/2 months to buy her. It scares me to death to think about starting a yearling. What if I make a mistake?!! She has had the ferrier trim all 4 feet, and has stood quietly while being tied, and has had a large old saddle cinched on her back. All done with gentle hands. She has accepted all of this willingly and seems to know what her job will be in a few years. Right off the bat you might consider her to be a Buckskin, but I'm thinking maybe next spring she will shed out as a grulla.

Pony, Sonora and Bella are going back out to the hundreds of acres for more free grazing. They just came in for pedicures this week. There are two more mares and foals out there, and a little band of geldings on the other side of the fence that hang together. I miss seeing Bella when she's on pasture but all the boring little lessons I might try to teach her can't possibly compare to the mental and physical growth, and learning her own balance while being out in her little herd. I have to remember that anything bad that could happen to her in the wide open spaces, could happen in the paddocks as well.

This is the last one, I promise. (Cara Scissoria greeting cards) Tickles my fancy as I'm sitting here watching/listening to the replay of the 9/11 news. My whole body is droopy and exhausted from worry about our Proud country.

That's probably too small to read. It says, "Livin' Velveeta Loca" It's from Cara Scissoria greeting cards. There are some very funny political ones and Christmas cards.

Wow what a week! My fun sister and her fun daughter came to visit just in the nick of time to enjoy the dramatic weather we had all week. They flew out yesterday and naturally today dawns bright and clear, smooth and cloudless. Oh well. My niece had a wonderful time tanning by the hot tub which was filled with cold water that turned warm all on it's own. Barbie and I did get to snorkel but the water was still just a bit too stirred up from the hurricane to see the beautiful fish.

I drove the girls back to Hermosillo alone since my husband was busy. That was also a treat to have the opportunity to shop at my own pace after I dropped the girls off. I stopped at a supermarket that has had my attention everytime we've driven past. I really like to grocery shop and shopping in a foreign grocery store has always been a treat. Now the game is to find as many familiar and favorite foods that might be hiding within the Mole' sauces or refritos. This store suprised me with the abundance of choices, even more soup choices. That is one of the main things I always remember and feel guilty about upon returning to the Otro Lado is the amazing choices we take for granted. Simply makes me dizzy as I fill my basket with old faithfuls. Anyway, this nice market was clean, well stocked, and took over an hour to browse through. I picked up a piece of ginger-root so we might consider making something Chinese this week.

I get to go out to see Bella today. The mares and babies are back home. I'll try to snap a picture of Sonora for you. She shows the positive effects of being free and happy for almost a month. Every foal should have this chance to muscle up.

ahem. I spoke too soon. The Tropical Storm formally known as Hurricane John did come for a visit and is staying around longer than I would have wanted. It's been raining for almost 12 hours and the wind picked up sometime in the middle of the night. But it's the swells and surf that really command your attention. Pounding surf that rattles in your chest and hits the sea walls with such gusto that the spray goes above the roof lines. Pretty intense. I tried to snap some pictures but it just doesn't do justice. I'll keep trying a post something if it seems worthy of your inspection.

By the way, I am a weather junky so that's why I bore the dickens out of you with weather stories. Also, being raised in the San Francisco Bay area did not prepare me for real life, weatherwise. It's much more dramatic everywhere else in the world than is SF.

Big John is on his lumbering way, slowly spinning up the Mexican coast. You can't tell it by this mornings' picture of the smooth-as-silk bay, with the fishermen fishing and snorkelers floating by. Maybe by this time tomorrow the swells will be big and the surf nasty.

Patience. It's all about learning patience.

Living in Mexico has taught this anal-Anglo that everything does not have to happen this instant. If you are willing to wait a damn minute you may have what you desire, or something close to it, or something even better.

Another valuable lesson I'm learning is that Mexicans as a generalization do not judge people on their looks, but more on their hearts. Somehow the folks I have met are so much better at looking into your soul and deciding if they want to be friendly with you or not.

There goes Pluto. As happy as we all were with our little 9 ball neighborhood, there was some discussion awhile ago that there could be more gaseous, circling snowballs added to this cute planetary system. That wasn't exactly earth-shattering to imagine there could be more, but it seems a bit devastating to decrease our escape options.

Ok let's get back to this hurricane stuff for a minute. There's Ileana out there somewhere in the western Pacific making our bay look so mad it's like a 5 year old having a tantrum. The waves are beating the shore and seawalls, trying to get their own way. Did you ever think the Sea of Cortez could be so influenced by what happens hundreds of miles west, way over the Baja Peninsula?

I think the So. Cal. surfers are ever so happy to get their boards on this free ride. Some businesses might be short-staffed while the kids hang 10.

Down here I just get seasick if I watch too long.

I'm getting the drift of the word "monsoon." It took it's time coming through but then hit like we were in the middle of a hurricane. Lightening, thunder. Sideways rain. It was everything you dream it would be and more.

Speaking of Hurricane, did you see the Spike Lee HBO special on Hurricane Katrina? Wow. Thank you Spike. It was marvelous and right on target. We watched all 4 hours and both agreed it put any little annoyances completely in perspective. I can't compare anything I've ever gone through to what the gov-ment did to those people. I also remember how angry I was last year as the horror was unfolding. And Barbara Bush, shame on you for being so out of touch with reality that you would think those thousands of people would enjoy camping on the floor of the Astrodome. Please go stay in your gilded cage and take your ass-hole son back with you.

My Bella is out grazing on the desert grasses, free as a bird. She's with the mares and their babies and I bet they are all giddy with delight at the freedom and full grass-bellies.

You know, this time going into the US made me feel "threatened and vulnerable." Dina and I learned of this latest threat as we were driving to the border. It was odd to think that the US was under Orange alert while not being in the US. It was somewhere else. Then, as I watched the news last night in Green Valley, which is very close to the border, I still felt removed. But, as I crossed back into Mexico today, I felt completely relieved to be out of the "footprint" of terror.

So Dina and I snorkeled a little while yesterday. I saw the most beautiful blue fish down around my toes and made Dina come over to have a look. Such a beautiful example of why nature is better in person.

Speaking of...The tortoises are out and about due to the grasses growing as high as a "tortoises" eye. The big boys are thrilled to be able to lumber about and feed to their hearts' content on the bounty that springs forward in the summer monsoon season. It's quite amazing that the desert can come alive so quickly in the heat of summer. I suppose everyone on the US east coast sees this as the growing time and it's not odd at all. I just think of it as the dried-grass time.

Now we are getting more excited about the Fall. We hear that the really nice month is October, when the weather cools a bit and dries up and the water stays warm.

Guaymas was 105 yesterday and we stopped and had tacos at the Michocan spot I love. Totally wonderful.

I've got to tell you something that makes me chuckle each and every time I think of it. A few months ago we were taking my old station wagon into the big town to put new tires on it. I was driving it ever so gently when she decided to cough and sputter and quit running. I had just entered the highway, carefully merging into the slow poke lane when the engine quit and thus the steering lost it's power. After stopping and putting her into P, I was able to start her back up. So, we continued for another few hundred meters when she quit again. Same drill. Over to the side and into P and turn her back on. By then, the husband who thinks I can do anything (because I tell him I can) is out of sight and over the next hill wondering why I'm going so slowly. At least 4 stops and starts later I catch up to him and switch cars, thank god his is a shiny Tahoe with major AC. WELL, it turns out the damn car was out of gas but still registered a half tank. Baaad Girl. Now comes the chuckle: Here we sit out on the side of the highway close-but-no-cigar to a gas station...in Mexico! Yep. Black smoking wrecks of cars with major busted out windshields that have only one gear are chugging by and giving us knowing nods that they've been there, done that. sigh I lived through it in spite of my neurosis.

Lean Cuisine

I will never so much as look in the freezer section for it again. It's not ever going to be in my refrigerator again. gag

It's hot and muggy and I'm in a hurry. I'll certainly have sweat running down my back all day. I wish it would carry away the fat cells with it.

Pause. Fast forward. Pause. Fast forward. I haven't seen the movie, Click, but it just dawned on me today that it is time to reflect. Why? Because the indignity of all time, I dribbled Metamucil down my chest. Wait a minute! Where did that come from that I am taking my daily dose.

Here I am/was merrily going along in my 30's, 40's and then BAM upper 50's, fa godsake. And taking a cup-full of cheer to start my day and slosh down my boobs.

The BadGirl, Emilia, left us last night sometime and the bay is back to being lovely, calm, smooth like a lake. The day dawned grey, overcast, and H U M I D! Key West kind of wet.

I only have a few days to wait for Kina. Come ON, will ya.

I wonder what the rest of the world is doing? We've got some kind of angry Neptune out in our sea this morning. I could tell before I ever opened my eyes since I could hear the surf pounding the shore. As I suspected the swells are big, rollings waves as they pass my patio and head straight into the southern facing shore. When they hit it feels like thunder and is beautiful to watch the spray covering the homes. Now I wonder how long a paint job lasts over there.

Speaking of paint, we are getting our exterior painted a lovely soft salmon. It's taking days and days to accomplish the whole house and I know we will both be pleased with the results.

The way I feel Right Now is happy to be out of the US and disgusted anew with GW and how he acted at the G-8 Summit. His condescending and bored attitude to all attendees is more hurtful to our nation than we may understand. Rubbing Angela Merkel's shoulders as if they were close relatives like mother and son, and the s**t heard round the world to Tony Blair is really unbearable. I wish they would keep him home until this horrible 8 years runs it's course and we can try oh so hard to elect a gentleman/woman to be our head of state. I can't tell you how embarrassed I am. My own children could be rambunctious in inappropriate situations, but we usually had more stranglehold on them than Dick or Carl have on this idiot.

OK. I had to go out and take a walk to finish this, otherwise I was off on a rant. Sorry. We Americans must truly use our heads next election. Oh I've gotta quit or I'll go off again.

Lovely, humid, hot day ahead.

Just on the off chance I can figure this out...here goes!

I'm overdue to hit the shower but here I sit, loving the view of boats motoring by and fat people snorkeling down below our patio. The water looks like an invitation to kayak since it is smooth with no swells. Being a weak chicken I'm not interested in running the waves with either a self propelled kayak or a motorized jet ski. I want swimming pool calm.

OK. I've got to shower and bed make so I can get this show on the road. Happy day!