THE FLORIDA CRUD

The drug stores in the area must be making a ton of money in the past week or so, as just about everyone I've talked to has the crud. I started on Saturday with the cough and sore throat, and by evening I also had a horrible headache along with upper chest tightness. I did almost nothing on Sunday, and on Monday I added the runny nose to the list of complaints. Yesterday I could finally breathe a little, and today I feel much better. There are seven of us up here at the rec center discussing this latest crud and comparing symptoms. I call it the Florida Crud and blame it on the humidity growing fungus in the lungs. I made use of the time locked up in the RV by sewing together some quilt blocks, but I am ready to get back to real living again. We plan to go to Lenten services and the pot luck at church tonight. Hope that you all are healthier than those of us down here in the warmth of Florida. And it was warm yesterday....78 I believe. By the way, have fun with your latest blizzard!

DIVE SCHOOL

On Thursday two huge vans plus a couple of personal vehicles were loaded with folks from the campground here and we went to the nearby Navy base at Panama City Beach. We were given a very interesting and educational tour of the diving school there. All branches of the military now use this same diving school so all the men and women are trained exactly the same way. All except for the Navy Seals. They have their own school in San Diego, I believe. After the tour we ate lunch at the Navy mess hall for a very reasonable price. It was a fun day, and everyone there learned that we could not last one minute in this intense training program. These divers are the cream of the crop of our young men and women, and we should be very proud of them.

BIG BLOW-UP!

Yesterday afternoon I came up here to the rec center with hopes to post about hubby meeting an old friend at church and about our fun day on Thursday. I opened my laptop and turned it on and saw what I didn't want to see. My screen was blown up! Just crackley lines and runs all over the screen. HELP! I NEED my computer. I was beyond upset. After a quick supper we headed off to Best Buy where I had them look up my date of purchase and whether it was still covered. When I bought the computer I had gone against hubby's wishes and I had purchased the extended warrenty. Guess what! It was good until July 31 of this year! So the screen is 100% covered. Only problem is that they don't have it there and they needed to send the computer in to the company to repair it. Takes at least two weeks. We were planning on leaving next weekend.....our spot time is up next week Sunday. We decided we would have to stay until it was repaired. Then the Geek asks "is there anything important on here?" HELLO? World to Geek.......I don't play games on here like you do. Yes, I have important stuff on my computer. Like my life! And over 5000 pictures. And over 1500 of those are from my once in a lifetime trip to Italy. Yes, there is important stuff on here! He says he only asked because sometimes when they install a new screen it wipes the hard drive. "But," he continued. "for only $99 we can back up your hard drive and you'll be fine." Well, what do you say then? Of course you pay the $99 to back it up! So, now we sit and wait for two weeks at least. And in the meantime I have to use hubby's laptop that doesn't agree with me very well.

IT'S A SMALL WORLD......

Wednesday evening we went to the Ash Wednesday services at our church and then to the potluck supper afterwards. As we were leaving I stopped to talk to a young man who I had been told had the last name of blank and that his father was a pastor. We had two girls at our college with the last name of blank and their father was a pastor, so I asked this young man if they were by any chance his sisters. Nope. He didn't know them. We continued to talk and he introduced me to his bride-to-be and told me that her family was from Northern Minnesota, a little town named Oklee. I told him that my husband was from Oklee! This young woman's brother was there and said "I need to go get my mom!" He went back to the kitchen and told his mom that there was someone there from Oklee and she came running out. I don't think she recognized hubby right away, but when I said his name she grabbed him and hugged him. Turns out this woman and hubby were in 9th grade together in Oklee, a town of 300 on a good day! It's really a small world. And these surprises that we keep uncovering are so much fun! Hopefully they can get together and talk about old times before we leave in a couple of weeks.

LENT - Path of Blessing

I received this from a friend last fall, and have read and reread it, attempting to make the fasts and feasts my own. It obviously is a path for life, not just for lent. I would like to share it with you. I do not know where it is from, or who the author is, but it was given to me by my friend Nina.

LENT - Path of Blessing

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from criticism; feast on praise.
Fast from self-pity; feast on joy.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from jealousy; feast on love.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from selfishness; feast on service.
Fast from fear; feast on faith.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

BIG DAY AT THE CAMPGROUND

Today was the Fourth Annual Festival at the campground. It started at 11 this morning with a display of crafts for sale. There were things made out of shells, silk flower angels, dishcloths and pot holders, games, pin and bead angels, and some beautiful hand painted porcelain jewelry. Next came the all you can eat pizza lunch. Sam, the campground manager lady, had ordered 70 pizzas from Little Caesars because the more she ordered the cheaper they were she said. Everyone had their fill, and there were about 20 boxes left that were given away during the afternoon. We had music....a guitar and a sax accompanying the canned rhythm section. And they were good. They did some Elvis, Jimmy Buffet, Eddy Arnold, and other "oldie but goodie" songs.

Then came the big event of the afternoon. The dog show! Everyone who had a dog was invited to join in the show, and as they registered earlier this week, they took pictures of each dog. The dog was accompanied down the "runway" by their owner and everyone clapped and cheered as each dog did their walk down the boardwalk leading into the rec center. Each owner was handed a picture of their dog on a certificate that listed all the vital information such as owner and breed etc. And each owner also received a small participation trophy....all the same....so no dog (owner?) would feel bad.

It was hilarious! Dogs in mink vests, sunsuits, tutu's, tuxes, and a Green Bay Packers visor hat and neck scarf ensemble! Most of these were tiny little dogs, poodles, dachshunds, and yorkies. They had names such as Miss So and So, or a French name, or a three name long handle of some kind. The dog I liked best was a plain black and white dog, about a collie size, named Shiloh. He was quiet, well behaved, and was laying in the dirt until his turn came up to parade down the aisle in only his birthday suit, no fancy clothes needed. I actually felt sorry for the other dogs but most of them put up with their owners commands to "look pretty" or "show them how you dance," or the constant fussing with their collars or outfits.

Then followed more music and drawings for prizes given by an RV company from town. I won a small daily log book to record your mileage, $$$$$, sights seen, etc. I've always kept track of such things anyway, but now it can all in one little book on one page and in an organized order. I'll probably use it. What I wanted to win was either the nice lounge chair or the woven mat to lay in front of the door so you don't track dirt in the RV. Someone else got them.

Now I'm doing laundry and it should be finished. Have a good evening and keep warm!

CHICKEN SOUP AND BIRTHDAYS

I make chicken dumpling soup on two occasions - when I need comforting and when I'm cold. In today's case, it's the later. BRRR! I know you northern folk have been suffering through two weeks of very cold weather, but, hey, we're in Florida! It's supposed to be warmer isn't it? The forecast for tonight is for frost way down in central Florida, so I know for sure we'll be in the upper twenties again. I decided the chicken thighs I bought yesterday to make into BBQ would serve better as soup meat. So I have soup bubbling on the back burner of the stove. I just added carrots, celery, cabbage and a few potatoes and in a few minutes I'll head back to camp and make dumplings for hubby. Chicken dumpling soup is one of his very favorites, so I can probably ask him for just about anything and I'd get it. Let's see. How about some dark chocolate......mmmmmmmmm.

Today is a grandson's birthday and I didn't get his card in the mail until today. I'm sorry Nicolas! I don't know why I am late. I guess when you don't work you don't need to know what the date is! There's a little money in the card for you. Ask your mom if she'll take you shopping. And ask her to send us a recent picture of you. I'll bet you've grown a lot just since Christmas. We miss you and will be excited to see you in May. Maybe you can come and stay with us in the RV on a night when you don't have school. Jaden and Madison like to stay.....maybe you can all come at the same time. That would be a wild party wouldn't it!

GOODBYE GLENN AND CAROL

This morning we said goodbye to our new friends from Maryland. They were our next door neighbors in the campground here at Tyndall AFB, and they left this morning for Tampa. We will sure miss them as we have grown very fond of them and have really enjoyed doing things with them. We've spent time with them almost every day for at least three weeks. We've done lunch, dinner, drives, ice cream, walks on the beach, and time just talking and getting to know each other. They have values and interests the same as ours, and we have similar views on many issues. We do hope to visit them in a couple of months up in their part of the country as we head for the DC area. If you're reading this Glenn and Carol, we already miss you and look forward to seeing you again. Have fun and be safe traveling. And someone already moved into your spot!
On Monday we went for a drive and saw these cyprus trees in a lake about an hour's drive from here. It's supposed to be a good fishing lake.

FINISHED ANOTHER JACKET

I finished another sweatshirt jacket. This one was pretty easy and didn't take half as long as the patchwork one. Now I'm working on a wall hanging that I started for my daughter at least two years ago! It's almost finished. I have cut out the squares for a simple 9 patch quilt. It's in different patterns and tones of a light redish color. I don't know what I'll use for the border color. Possibly a black. I have also finished a flannel quilt top in the Turning Twenty pattern. I think I will have it quilted by someone with a long arm quilting maching. And I have the fabric for another Turning Twenty quilt in hot pinks, tourquise and orange. HOT colors!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Wishing the 15 greatest grandkids in the world a Happy Valentine's Day! This means you Kjirsten, Katie, Aaron, Jacob, Courtney, Caleb, Joe, Adam, Justin, Ben, Jaden, Nicolas, Madison, Anna and Sammy! We love you all dearly and can't wait to see you in May.

WE SAW YOU MOM!

We often check the webcams at the college where we used to work, and sometimes see people we know. Just now hubby was checking the webcam at the Fine Arts Center and we saw my mom coming out of the presentation in the theater! We watched her walk through the lobby and pause to look at a sculpture or a piece pottery displayed on one of the tables. Then we also saw my sister walk through the lobby. What are the chances that we would be sitting at the rec center in Florida and just happen to check the webcam at the exact moment that my mom would walk into the picture, way back in Minnesota? Hi mom! We love you!

FEBRUARY TORNADO

Remember how strange it was to have the Saint Peter tornado hit in March? Way too early in the season we thought. Well, this morning we had tornado warnings here at the campground. We were already up here at the rec center, checking email and bank accounts, and, yes, I was reading a few blogs, when the newspeople broke into the TV program and showed the huge red spot out in the gulf moving toward Panama City Beach. We watched it move toward shore from twenty miles out and saw the little hook developing and the rotation starting. But that one seemed to die out as it hit land. At least I have heard nothing about any damage. We'll watch local news tonight to see if anything happened.

But, while we were worrying about the cell that was about a dozen miles west of us the tornado sirens on base sounded and the base weather people broke into the TV weather special in order to tell us that a funnel was sighted on the west side of the golf course on base. That can't be more than a couple of miles from us! Again it must have died out as it hit the land because we heard nothing more about it. The warning expired and we had no wind at all, just a good downpour. The rest of the afternoon has been humid feeling though. Now they say we are getting a cold front and we will have the coldest weather of the winter, thirties at night and forties during the day. I'll stay in and work on a quilt.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

FRESH, JUST PICKED, JUICY, PLANT CITY STRAWBERRIES. MMMMMMMMMM!

SORRY! I'VE BEEN BUSY!

Okay, I need to blog quick so I don't get any more emails asking if I'm okay because I haven't blogged since Monday! At first I had nothing to say because I had done nothing exciting, and now the past two days I have been busy doing fun stuff.

Yesterday my friend from Maryland and I went on a trip with about 18 others from the campground. We went to Wakula Springs State Park, about a two hour ride from here, and we went on a wonderful boat trip on the river there. We saw many different species of birds, snakes, and alligators. I'll post a few pictures here.

Some of the original Tarzan movies were made here, as was Creature from the Black Lagoon. Airport 77 was also made here and they actually sunk an airplane in the area where the spring is 120 plus feet deep.

There were over a dozen turtles lined up here on this log sunning themselves.

See ya later, alligator!

ROBINS AND CARDINALS AND DOVES, OH MY!

It sounds and feels like spring in Minnesota. Early in the morning the robins are out, chirping happily as they bob bob bob along, The doves are singing their sad call, and the cardinals are are asking "what cheer, what cheer, what cheer?" The temperatures are between 28 and 32, and it's crisp and clean air.

However, it's the first week in February here in Florida. From what I understand, the temperatures in Minnesota are about the same as ours, only there is as minus sign in front of them! And I'm guessing you aren't hearing robins yet, right?

WE ARE FINE

We are fine. The horrible weather was south and east of us in central Florida. We did get 3.25 inches of rain yesterday and last night, but that is nothing compared to the tornados south of us. They are now reporting that there were 19 deaths and vast destruction, and that it will be months or maybe even years before all the mess is cleaned up. One church reported that they are having Sunday services on the front lawn of their totally destroyed church building. The pictures coming out of that area are unbelievable.

We went for a ride with our friends this afternoon. We decided we wanted Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream, and the closest place was 62 miles away. And it was worth it to have the coffee ice cream with crushed Heath bar in it. NUMMY! We got back just in time to attend the hot dog night at the gazebo. Everyone brings their own dogs and buns and we just congregate in the gazebo at the fire pit to cook them. Boy, did the fire ever feel good tonight. We're expecting low 30's again tonight, but I noticed it was in the 40's in Seldovia again today.

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING

So You Think You Know Everything? Author Unknown (borrowed from the Seldovia, Alaska online newspaper, The Gazette)

"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.
It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill
A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
Almonds are a member of the peach family.

FINISHED!

I have finally finished my jacket. It was a lot of work! I don't know if you can tell or not, but all the patches are just sewed on the sweatshirt, leaving raw edges. As it ages and frays more and more, it's supposed to look cool. We'll see about that. Today my friend from Maryland and I went shopping for a little while, and we got the fabric and the sweatshirt to make the next jacket that the group here is making. The next one will be a little dressier. We start on that one next Wednesday. I am also working on a flannel quilt which is made with 20 different fat quarters. It's called Turning Twenty, and is made with pretty large pieces, so it won't take too long.

The rain is still pouring down, but I believe they have cancelled the tornado watch for this area. The temperature here is in the low 60's while just north it's in the 40's and just south it's in the 80's! No wonder there are storm warnings.