I would say that we all love to eat at one time or the other.

       And dinner out is the best treat, because the feast is prepared by others.       No dishes to clean up, and good company to boot.

              ” What a winning combination.”  

         Yesterday was our day for such a treat, and the theme of the dinner was spring/summer.                    All the treats that come together with “barbeque time.”

                                     “YES!!!!” 

                      I wonder if spring is close.

                  The chicken was yummy, golden brown, crispy, and juicy.         The salads fantastic, and the variety, well what can I say… “Yummy!!”

The master chef

noodle salad (my fave)

Deviled eggs

Mac salad

Potato salad

                  I ate my fill, and left that night content and happy.             

                                But, for some reason once I stepped out the door, there was winter waiting for me to step out.                   What happened to spring?                      Was I dreaming or was it just the delight of the feast before me?                   Must have been, as reality has away of shocking up out of a delightful moment.       

                        Oh well, I can dream of the green blades of grass beneath my feet, the warm sun on  my face,of  the aroma of the seasonal blooms tickling my senses,  and summer in full activity.

                       

                  Don’t wake me from this dream I’m in as this is the place for me.  

bye bye

   We sit we wonder, how the heck could we let this go so long.         I have no idea!!           Time has away of passing faster than you may wish it too.                   Mine has been just zipping along like a spinning car out of control.                   “Man”,  that is pretty crazy and way too fast!!                  Help me!! 

Dizzy

      I need to get off this tredmill of constent movement.              I need to relax, and grab so well needed sleep.                   But, the hustle and bustle of lifes plans, has me spinning round and round.  

Spinning too fast

                     When will this world we live in be at peace.                         With the earth quakes that leave many homeless, and hungry.               Looking for loved ones, and felling a loss that few of us know.             The world has lent a helping hand to all in need, and with the grace of God we will keep on the path to helping those how need our help.             The storms that take out towns, and leave behind them Nothing.            The carnage inflicted by those who fight for the beleifs of a group, and not for the beleifs in thier hearts.

To your own heart be true

            If, this world would only slow down, and work to repair the damage done, then the children would not suffer, and take on the beleifs of others just to survive.        We would know the peace of our world and all that is in it.                     So,      when you find the world is spinning too fast for you,  just step out for awhile, and think of why you have become the puppet of a spinning world.                    You will find away to step back and breathe.   

                    We all need the time away.  

contemplate life

                            Our minds have away of not keeping up with us.                          Well, guess what?               Mine is still in vacation mode.             When will I become myself again?

                  I sit, I ponder, where has my mind gone?                 Is it on the open seas, where the sea gull flies?            Seeking out his lunch.              Where the waves are high during the brunt of a storm, and smooth as silk when the seas are at rest.        Where the sun reflects of the water with a light that makes your eyes sqwint, and your skin turn a gloden brown.            Where the pools are cool and the breeze is lite upon your face.    Where relaxation in the only event for the day.  

       I know that I am still there, and relive the vacation we took, over, and over again.     

       I will go there again, and sometime soon my mind will return to me.    Till then I will dream of times gone past, and dream of ones to come. 

              Never stop dreaming, for one day your dreams will come true.         

         With the request of a few of my visitors I am leaving with you a few more photos of my trip.                 As I had mentioned I took many photos while away.          I hope you will enjoy these photos.        

                                    “Enjoy”

On the beach at Coco Cay Island

Glass blown flowers

Landing at St Maarten

 

A very large watch dog.. LOL

Aprouching the island of St. Thomas

"YA MAN" He is jammin'

A small hiden cafe' With very good coffee

"Beatle Mania" One of the many shows to see on the ship

• 

  As we leave St Maarten a sadness comes over us. We are heading home.

            Vacation over, and now we are back to normal life.  

         We had a blast, and I would recommend a cruise to anyone who has not taken a cruise to look for away to make it happen.                    The size of the ship when you see it for the first time is enough to take your breathe away.                                               The size alone is amazing.                 My camera was clicking endlessly.                   As you enter this massive vessel you will take in the countless amazing sights, and sounds.                The ship can give you almost all that you need for your stay.              All the food you desire served at a variety of dining areas.               Shows to make you laugh, and cry.          Events for everyday of your vacation.    

                                    I wish to share a few of my photographs with you and just maybe you will be looking into taking a cruise someday soon.    

                                    Enjoy!!!           

    I have been patiently waiting for this short week at work to end.

               Finally it has.

      It is vacation time, and I am very excited.  

        We are going to warmer places on a very large ship.         This is my first time on a cruise, and my mind has been laying out the suitcase for a few weeks now.         

              To go from winter ware to pretty well no ware at all is just fine by me, but it does take some planning especially with the weight restictions implimented by air ports these days.               You can only have under fifty pounds of baggage per person. 

           Now, I am a woman and we tend to over pack for the chance that just maybe, half the population around us will need to borrow something we have with us. :-)            “Hey”, that may seem funny, but if you need a safey pin for that split in the pants, just look for the lady with the piles of luggage. :-)                 She just might be able to help you out.   

               As for a man’s way of  packing, a couple pairs of socks,  unders,  jeans, shirts, a suit, shorts, shoes, and toilettres, and they are ready to go.        “BUT, do they have a safety pin?”   “NO.” ” Not important.”    You are looking for that lady with the luggage incase anything should erupt.    

                    We ladies on the other hand have a large variety of the must bring items.  

                 The plane ride will be my second, and I will be like a pro with that part of the trip at least.               As for the rest well we will follow the lead of the couple we are going with.             I know I will have a  fun time.           

                 I did the vertual ship tour on my computer, and have many things I want to do while on the ship.          I have a fear of hieghts, and my desire is to sit in one of the hot tubes that hangs off the side of the ship.             You are suspended over the ocean.  

             “So wish me luck with that one.” 

       It is good to at least try to over come the things you fear.       And what a better way than in a hot tub while on a cruise.          

       My camera, and I will be taking photos of all kinds of events, places, people, and sights.         I also have plans to keep a journal of the trip, and share some of the fun times with others.   

        Though I am excited, I am sad to have to leave my dogs, and cats home.  “After all who will share half my meal with me while I am gone?”     ” And what will I do with my half of the bed not taken over by pets?”     “I guess I will just have to grin and bare it.  ”               

                 I have several very fantastic people taking care of them while I am gone, so I will not worry as much.          

                             ” Thanks Family.”

                 For anyone going on your vacation, I wish you many happy times, and a safe return home.   

                           “Till later.”    “Bye, Bye.” 

   As we come to the night before the Christmas day celebrations, how many of us ask ourselves,        ”Is it over yet?”

                  ” YES it is. “

                    We made it threw all the visitors, the food, the beverages, and the wrapping paper toss.

                Now we can give a happy sigh of relief.          We can relax, and enjoy the quiet times.        We can look over our photo graphic memories of the day, and just,  “Smile”.

       I would like to share some smiles,of our  days fun with everyone.

         “Enjoy  some of my Christmas memories.”

Ready to go, but does anyone notice?   “NOT”

                  And this is how the day ended, with everyone fast asleep.

       ” Have a wonderful holiday!”

        The time is nearing for the big day.  “Are you ready?” 

        What big day you may ask?

       Well, it will be Christmas very soon!          There are only three sleeps left till     ”Christmas Day”   is here.

        “Santa”     will have come, and went, the gifts left under the tree.  

          The children once asleep with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.           Will be wide awake, their eyes brightly shining,  smiles wide upon their faces, will scamper to the tree and look over each gift to see which one is theirs.           The giggles, and glee in their voices pierce the once silence of the sleeping house.                Now is the time for the busy elves to rise from the warmth of their bed, and join in on the excitement of the day.

            “Coffee, or Tea”, is the first stimulant  needed.

          The children and some of the adult elves can hardly wait for the beverage to be ready.               But, with out this, it is hard to handle the hustle, and bustle which is about to happen. 

            “The time has come.”

        The once quiet children have begun to unwrap their gifts one by one.          Wrapping paper which was once so carefully applied to each gift, is now flying through the air, and littering the once clean tidy room.            But, all this frenzy is worth the look on the faces of the children.           The thank yous, and kisses and hugs of joy make all the stress of shopping seem like a long-time lost memory.  

              “It was all worth it.”

    I love   Christmas   not just for the looks on the childrens faces, but for the closeness that comes over most of us on this day of giving.                 We gather round, and give thanks for the things we have, and enjoy a feast prepared by loving hands.

       “I wish everyone out there, A very   Merry Christmas.”

      Be safe, and do not drink and drive.  

  ” Snow, Snow, Snow.”

        We have been hit, by tons of the cold white stuff.             ” Help Me.”    

            As I look out my door this is all I can see.        The Christmas lights peek from under the white fluff of the snow.        The beauty of this event amazes me.          I can’t help but take photographs by the dozen. 

               The winter is here for sure. 

                           Our puppies frolic in the snow, bounding here and there.          There faces covered in white snow, but this is fun to them.        Their pleasure is our delight. 

         Enjoy your winter if you get one, play in the snow, go skiing, skating, sleighing, snow ball fitting, or whatever gets you out the door.                “Enjoy the beauty.”

              ” Happy Winter”       

               I have writen before about hospital waiting times.          I wish to continue with my dis-pleasure, and dis-beleif with the on going health care problems.       :-(           

                             Going to see your doctor if you have one is nothing like it used to be.              You have to call, and get a busy signal time after time.         I find to put your phone on the redial routine.               I find to push redial, after dialing the number, then when you get the busy signal hang up right away do the redial again.                     Stick with this routine, and you will be talking with the nurse soon after.                      

               Now if you are one of the few in this world that can gain contact with the nurse of your doctor right away.      “ I take my hat off to you”,   for you are very fortunate to have such a good doctor.          

                     Now, once you have made contact, you ask to see the doctor, and the question first asked, at least in my case is what is wrong with you.             I guess my illness will give me first choice on what date and time I get.               Grant you, I do understand the question and the reason for it being asked.                When I am sick I have no reasoning,  I  just need to get looked at, and taken care of.            The sweet kind voice of the nurse comes back with the bad news,  it will be one week before you can be seen by the doctor.               The chances my illness will be there in a week is debateable.             I hum and haw, the nurse says she has no sooner times open ,and if I wish I can go to the clinic or the emergency.               My heart begins to pump harded, as the idea of being trapped in the hospital goes through my mind.                  I take the appointment, and thank the nurse for her help.                           

                       The time for my doctor’s visit has approached, and I am still  not feeling well.                 I arrive at the office, I  check in, and wait.                     After a twenty minute wait I am in.     ”Yes!”                  Now this is the tricky part, you give your symptoms and the doctor listens to your chest, and checks the blood pressure, and the throat.       

                   She is rushed and you get the feeling you are taking up her pressious    time.                                It seems that now the more patients you see in  a day the more money you make.              There it is again the all mighty dollar, and how it runs our lives.             I don”t know if it just me  but, I feel like I am in the heird  of running cattle.                   I am being rounded up and run up the ramp  for your  fast assesment.                      

                       I have found we are getting ten to fifteen minutes tops, for a regular appointment,     and for your specially booked physical appointment you are given twenty to thirty minutes for your quick run over.             

              What happened to the patient, and the time to listen?     

                 What the heck can we do?        

                       Get another doctor?        Well, that is easier said than done.                 

                    Maybe we should all go back in time to the point when doctors were abundant, and they needed to be kind with their patients in order to keep them.                               

                                 “Oh”  if only.        

                 “Pinch me I must be dreaming.”