my mind wanders all the time...

I have been in bed for the past two days with a super summer flu!! My major accomplishment is trying to BREATHE, between a stuffy head and horrendous cough. I decided to try to get up and work "with" it today - maybe get all this crap to move further out of my body.

Anyway, I was devastated when I heard on CNN about the search teams finding the body of the missing pregnant woman from Canton, Jessie Marie Davis. Being such a news junkie, it was all so identical to the Laci Peterson disappearance a few years back. With so many details being disclosed almost immediately, i.e., the married boyfriend, prior child from said boyfriend, two year old sons limited verbal account...of course the boyfriend would have been suspect #1. And he is a Canton, Ohio policeman...a cop who had been terminated in the past for giving his cousin a service revolver, but reinstated on a technicality. He has prior charges of domestic violence and assault - so no way he could not be considered a "suspect."

But what amazed me the most was a family member of the suspect, said that his family had to leave suspects house, after receiving numerous calls from people claiming to be "THE KLAN!" Startling - hate never goes away. Where I grew up you never heard the "N" word and everyone got along well. When I moved here to Ohio, it was the word of the day. I was here for a couple of years when a friend took me to a bar called the 3 K's - dumb me, I never made any connection to the Klan. Apparently this area was a hub for the Ku Klux Klan, and a very prominent physician, for which there are buildings named after, held a very high position within the Klan, possibly high wizard or something. To this day, the hate still brews. I get boiling mad when I hear the "N" word used as if it were a persons name. In order to warrant the name calling - one would have to prove to be worthy of such derogatory remarks. Just being a person of color does not get it. The younger generations may be the ones to make the prejudice disappear as there are so many bi-racial relationships in this once "white power" area. I was raised that people who had to revert to calling people names were ignorant...a thought I hold today. I should hope that someday, whether you are white, black, red or some mix, the realization will be made that we are people first - color has no bearing. Aspire to the best you can be, and color has no place. I doubt in my lifetime that this can be accomplished, because past generations have ingrained their hate in following generations. Sad but true.

I truly hope that justice is served by the judicial system when the trial begins for this man...a 26 year old soon to give birth woman, was struck down for no apparent reason other than "fear" on his part. He made his bed but didn't know where to lay. We shall see.

Everyone stay healthy (I'm getting there) and TTFN.

what were they thinking...

I picked theson up at Pittsburgh airport yesterday, and true to form, the plane was over an hour late. This does not dissapoint me at all, as I get to "watch people!" It totally amazes me as to how people dress and if they even look in a mirror before going out in public. I only wish I had my camera to put a couple of real winners here on the blog.

I was sitting next to a lady who also was waiting on family to arrive, and she and I had quite a few giggles. She was commenting on the women who were travelling and wore these unbelievably HIGH stiletto heels. Now come on ladies - we know how uncomfortable these really are!!! And to think of all the walking involved in getting from gate to gate and baggage areas - NOT!!!!

All in all, a great way to pass the time.

Theson and I started work on my kitchen today, one wall had to have all the wallpaper stripped off - such a lovely and time consuming job. Tomorrow we will begin the painting process. He certainly does come in handy!! This kitchen has needed a facelift for quite some time - and I knew it had to be started soon. After the paint job - going to tackle the cabinets - YUCK!!!

My body is killing me - gonna crash soon. Everyone stay healthy and TTFN!

done in Canada...where to next???

Theson is finished with his job in Canada - Red Deer to be exact and will be coming home tomorrow, can't wait to pick him up at the airport. Such a traveller - will probably head to Colorado to visit friends before heading to Salt Lake City for a wedding. He will finally get to see Jules and hopefully have a wonderful time. His next job assignment will be after the 4th of July I believe. That will give him some time with us and his friends.

He will hate to come back here - 90 degrees, and heat is not his favorite climate, although the General seems to send him to tropical areas the most. He loved the weather in Canada - his cup of tea to be exact.

More on his visit later. Take care all and TTFN.

...and it was an EVENTFUL beginning!

Well, this is not the best picture in the world - as are most of the ones from this trip. I had major camera malfunctions and missettings (is that a word?) and so we deal with what we have!
This picture is for the introduction to our vacation. We arrived at the Bahia Mar Beach Resort and Yachting Center in Ft. Lauderdale, and upon arrival, they stuck us in an outer building and when we went to the room - another couple was in the room - deciding that they didn't like it either. So off we trek back to the main building and the reservations desk. We then got a room in the main building on the seventh floor. We lounged around for awhile then went downstairs for dinner and then sat outside watching all the Mercedes, Jaguars, BMW'S, Lexus' and even a Bentley roll up. There are several events going on at any given time at this hotel.

We probably went back to the room around 9 pm, watching TV, till 12:01 am and BOOM - all the power went out. No TV, no lights (very dim) and NO AIR CONDITIONING!!!! Then an announcement comes over the PA system - "Ignore the alarm that will go off, this is a false alarm!" Then it began, the piercing blare of the alarm - which did not cease till 1:51 am. Almost two solid hours. Now mind you, when the alarms are activated the elevators do not operate. I called down to the main desk several times, and it would ring non-stop then disconnect. At 1:41 am I got thru to the front desk, to be given a "stock" answer that it was only a false alarm due to a power surge. Although it is hard to see in the picture, that is a firetruck (one of three that showed up, only 2 staying for almost 2 hours) as we look directly down from our window. (We had a small step-out ledge and banister.) Strange as it sounds, we did have power and lights in our bathroom. We watched the firemen go to their trucks carrying a long bar, which they use to pull down ceilings. I went to get us a pop at the vending machine - which didn't work because of no power and the smell of burning wires was awful. Since this is a distinct smell, I knew it had to be more than a "power surge."

We could get NO answers and here we are stuck on the 7th floor. We could have gone down the 7 flights of steps, but certainly would never have made it back up. Again, I kept calling the front desk and did not get them to answer again till 4:01 am. There was nothing they could do about the power. Hahahaha!! I think we managed a couple of hours sleep, but when we went down for breakfast, I stopped at the desk and asked for the manager, and the young man in charge says, "there was NO fire", when I said I smelled the wiring and the firemen were highly active. He then said "can you prove there was a fire?" WRONG!!!!! I am much smarter than him on his best day - don't test me!

That was not even the point - I wanted a complete refund for the lodging because if I want to camp out I am certainly not going to pay $150. This young man told me that "they" would be having a meeting on Monday to decide what to do - and that wasn't good enough for me. I called Orbitz (booked through) and explained the entire situation (making sure she was writing it all down) and she told me to hold, she was calling this young man - it wasn't 6 or 8 minutes she came back on the line and said the entire amount had been credited back to my credit card. I WAS IMPRESSED. Then from that point on, we told EVERYONE - don't settle for less than 100% refund. Some were getting 25 - 50%. I felt much better then. We couldn't even get a hot breakfast, as there was no power there either.

It was eventful to say the least. Going back to my blog from June of last year, there was a fire next door to the hotel where I stayed before leaving on my cruise. Now that is kind of eerie!! I guess everyone needs a little excitement now and then.

Gonna play with the grandson - so take care and TTFN!

...it's over ...can't wait for next one!!!

The vacation is over, but knowing there will be another makes me happy!! Got home, unpacked a little, enjoyed the grandson...and all is well with the world. Got up this morning and had an email from a very nice couple I met on the cruise from London. She (Pam) must have headed directly to her computer after her loooong flight. (It was timed at 5:03 am this morning). Tom (her husband) is a London cab driver, but unlike those in America, there are stages or levels of expertise. He had to memorize something like 22,000 streets, know where the locations were of several thousand pubs and meeting centers. Amazing - could you see New York cabbies doing that? It is a very well paying job and as he well has earned - very high status and respect through his job.

More later, much to do and contacts to be made. Will have pics from cruise and especially thegrandson and his first trophy. TTFN.

Finally below 600 days....

Please note the Bush countdown clock - finally below 600 days - but still waaaaay too many days left for him to f**k everything up!!! I'm still a big fan of impeachment. Now he is trying to "flip-flop" and get on the "green wagon." Too little - too late!! Can you tell I despise the man?

Theson is in Red Deer, Canada and from his blog - totally exhausted. Poor baby. He is constantly having to sync his body clock, with all the different time zones and work shifts. But he seems to handle it pretty well.

Today is the day to finally start packing - I HAVE A CHECKLIST!!! Scary thought. I constantly spend more time worrying that I have forgotten to put something ON the list. Actually, there is very little you need on a cruise. I don't tour so I really don't need too many casual clothes. Just swimsuits and something to wear to dinner. (2 formal nights - but we don't go overboard on that one either.) Oh well, it always comes together - no matter what - if I forget something I will just buy the item.

EVERYONE STAY HEALTHY AND WELL WHILE I AM GONE AND I WILL CHECK BACK AS SOON AS I RETURN.

I can check my email and things on the ship but the service is snail slow as the connection is by satellite. So rather than check blogs I stick to email. I have cruised enough -all my internet time is free. Yippee for me!!

TTFN AND SEE Y'ALL SOON!