Love shines Down...

Hello dear readers-I am finally home after a few 'earthy' days.  I've been up in Ossineke doing all things earth.  Monday afternoon I spent with my godchild's kindergarten class on their celebration of Earth Day.  We were read a story, we did an art project, they almost killed me in gym class and we studied and ate some things (fruit) that grows on trees.  I then had some intense attention from a princess, a mermaid, a doctor and some friends that gave me a little a friendly little blood pressure and reflex check.  Nikki is an awesome teacher and her little charges, all 23 of them, love her.  Thanks class, for an awesome afternoon!

On a totally different note, this morning we interred my Dad.  It was a sunny morning in an old, country cemetery where my Dad was  blessed from ashes to ashes and dust to dust, literally.  It felt completely right to end the celebration of  his life in this way.  Flowers and trees were beginning to bud and birds were chirping.  An old horse was just over the fence watching the proceedings as he munched fresh grass.  Dad was laid to rest with his wife, children, sisters and extended family witnessing.  Back to the earth-as it should be.

I am very introspective tonight as I feel tired and grateful to have experienced what seems like the full circle of life.  New life, old life and everything in between is wonderful and special on our wonderful, beautiful, earth.

Let's work together to keep it that way for generations to come. xoxo

Could it Be...

Thoughts and prayers tonight for the victims of the Boston tragedy.  I barely have words to describe the fear I am feeling.  I am sick and rocked to my core.  xo

Scream and Shout...

Tonight finds me ending my vacation.  I'm packed and leaving in the morning.  I'm tired and ready to get back into a routine that doesn't include sleeping in, rich food and daily happy hours.  As usual, I am ready to get back home.  The drive back isn't nearly as fun as the ride down and for just a hot second, I wish I was flying.  But Lola would rather ride.

Since before vaycay, I have been engrossed in the Jodi Arias trial catching it live on HLN.  Being a true crime/court t.v. addict-I have been glued.  The story involves all the juice that keeps us interested.  Sex, murder, religion, questionable mental states, lies, and did I mention sex?  Jodi has finally admitted to the murder of her Mormon lover and after changing her story twice, they are finally getting down to the truth.  She admitted to killing Travis, so now it's just a matter of the death penalty or life in prison.  Jodi's defense have spend hours and boocoo bucks trying to prove that she is mentally unstable and possibly a victim of domestic abuse.

So where are you all on the question of death penalty?  Is rotting in prison all of your life payment enough for taking a life or do you deserve to pay in kind?  What if she WAS abused?  Does that make a difference?   It's horrible and devastating for both families and friends involved.

Can't wait to see how this all pans out in the court.  I'll be away from the telly for a few days, but will have plenty of time to listen on the radio.  Sounds exciting, huh?  This Jodi thinks so... xo

Mirrors...

 My last week in the Keys, finds me still aspiring to become a beautiful mermaid.  However, parts of me do not want to cooperate.  My hair refuses to become long and flowing and in fact needs a good salon treatment to prevent it from totally frying off in this heat.  I can go topless, (or totally nekkid) on my sunbathing deck but well, let's just say, that the old girls don't looks exactly like the ones pictured.  We are not even going there in regards to the tight little fishie bum!  And the sun does nothing to make my skin compare to hers.  Later today, when go snorkeling on the reef is the closest I will become to a Queen of the Sea.  Beeotch.  Sigh....

That will not prevent me from enjoying my guests as we do what we do while feeling smug that it's 20 something degrees back home.  So till next week, it's hot days and sultry nights.  Salt air and blue sky's.  And one old Sea Hag... xo

Girl of Glass...

Had a ball today doing the arty thing.  Friend Pam and I visited a local glass art gallery and took a class.  The studio is filled with light and gorgeous glass works by artist Stephanie.  I have played around with glass by doing mosaics and such, but never before had I fused glass.  With Nora Jones and Sade on the stereo, Stephanie gave us a short history on glass-it's been around since 500 B.C., followed by a tutorial in glass fusing.  I designed 8 pieces and observed as she fired them.  She then added bales to the glass allowing them to be strung onto a necklace.  I loved it and it was a total two hour escape from reality and I recommend art as therapy to anyone.  Try it-you'll love it! xo

Beer Thirty

Tomorrow Randy, my brother and Warren leave for Michigan, officially ending the annual "Sloth, Indulgence and Debauchery Tour" for another year.  I will be staying on.  I've had a blast the past ten days, but some down time will be fine with me.  Every year, I swear it gets harder to keep up the pace required to 'relax' on vacation.  I simply cannot hang like I once could. 

 

 I have completely embraced the Florida custom of 'Early Bird' happy hours and dinner.  This time frame I used to find amusing as the 'old people' hurriedly made their way in for half off drinks and appetizers.  I don't understand that schedule in Michigan, but it is beginning to make sense here in the Keys.  The fresh air and sunshine find me yawning around 10:00, necessitating in a very early start to most nights out. This schedule perfectly coincides with the nightly sunset celebrations-an event that requires a waterside seat and numerous cocktails to be properly viewed.  The beauty of the sunset over the water is breathtaking and certainly deserves to be appreciated. 

 

Clap, clap. Whoo hoo.  That's gorgeous, now can I please have another rum runner? 

 

Early Bird also is a  financial boon.  My rum runner goes from $5.50 to $11.00 after 7:00 and the same percentage applies to food.  $12.00 for conch fritters? Sheesh!  It's crazy but genius, really.  The way I see it is that the old people and cheapskates can fill the restaurants and bars and get their food and drunk on and then make way for the people that didn't get off the boats or beaches till six o'clock.  Less waiting for seating and a bargain to boot.

 

Tonight we found a spot that served my wine for $2.50 and a great little salad for $5.00.  Dinner and two drinks for ten bucks is a bargain anywhere and with the money I saved maybe I can buy a kicky little sarong or some other necessity  Happy and thrifty to boot-that's me!

 

Day Late and a Dollar Short...

Today finds me a day late in my usual posting schedule and more than a dollar short. 

Yesterday, near the end of a grueling day in Key West, I was approached by these two skin care experts for a little 'facial relief'.  After a leisure drive that included a stop at the No Name key for lunch, many 2 for 1 Margaritas, and much participating in the 'Duval Crawl', there is no doubt that I was ripe for the picking.  Also, due to the fact that I had 9, count 'em, spots of pre-cancerous stuff zapped off me last week, I could understand the boys recognition of a likely mark.

Now, I have worked with these little scammers before.  They are from Israel, totally gorgeous, dressed in the latest designed wear, and smell delicious.  The same qualities that you can find down the strip at the gay bars-with one major difference-these hotties could sell a vegan a t-bone2.  Down at the disco, I have no trouble being 'convinced' to spin around to Donna Summer.  Oh, but this is different....

After being seated and plied with wine (the cheap stuff), Dollface #1, got an up close view of my poor old, sun ravaged, alchohol dehydrated, and sleep deprived skin.  It was hard not to check him out, as he gently applied the 'magic'.  The sincerity in those liquid, Hershey candy kiss brown eyes was inescapable.

Now, I could have resisted. (Yeah, right). But, the effects were very visible and I had heard good things previously about the product.  I truly was in need for a regime that did not include liquid Soft Soap and generic moisturizer.  But experience told me, that after Dollface #2 had sufficiently got to size up my spending capabilities (again, the liquid eye thing), I would have to strongly hold out until he cut the price in half, at least, and threw in 3 times as many freebies.

End of story is that I bought the starter line.  This morning my skin still looks terrific.  But, you might want to heed my warning.  If you see a gorgeous, dude offering to change your world, run-don't walk.  And make sure you DO NOT look into those eyes...sigh, but I am weak, and there's one born every minute!!!