Need a good laugh?

My favorite place for a laugh a day is  the "Cake Wrecks" blog.....and the Christmas cakes have been pretty awful...but great for a good laugh. Link up to today's post.
John doesn't always appreciate my sense of humor...but I think these cakes are hilarious. Yesterday's are pretty funny too.

Dancing with Santa

Dancing Santa

We went to a party Saturday night...lots of good food and fun people. We had a good time. John hasn't been out as much lately...so his friends were happy to see him out on the town. While we were there...we had to pose near the Santa...who we then found out was a dancing Santa....our friend got him on E-Bay. He had sort of a creepy expression.....and he kind of danced like one of our relatives..(.no names in order to protect the innocent...haha) feet firmly planted...lots of knee movement...haha. You press a button and he starts up...but on occasion he just started dancing on his own. He could scare you if you walked into a dark room and he started moving around. Maybe they use it  for when their kids come in late...hahah...my Mom could've used one! haha Anyway...we had a good time and it was nice to go out and celebrate a little.... and get into the holiday spirit.

A day off

I had the day off...so I spent it trying to get organized...and made some progress weeding through piles of catalogs, papers and cards...some from last year....that I've decided I really CAN live without saving. Have to make room for the ones arriving now....I have butter sitting out ready to be added into some recipe or another...still haven't figured out what I'm making.
I read to Amy's class today...that was fun. They liked the three books I brought. Christmas Magic by Michael Garland. Cute story about a magical Christmas Eve when the snowmen come to life, the mice are in the kitchen baking, the stockings are forming a chorus line, the angel figurines are flying around, etc. The class seemed to like the idea of such magic fun.  (snowman below is not the one from the book...but he's cute! haha)
Next was Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer by Thatcher Hurd. I've mentioned this one before...it's funny and a cute story...the kids get a kick out of the fact that Santa's in a bad mood and the reindeer are grumbling. They laugh every time! And another favorite that I wrote about last year...The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristen Kladstrup. I LOVE that book...so cute. I think I made them all hungry...each story mentioned cookies and cocoa...they all were ready for a snack when I was leaving...haha Tomorrow I will read Sharing Christmas by Kate Westerlund. It's a nice little story about sharing and caring. The animals are hungry during an especially snowy winter...but they hear bells and follow the sound...and all ends well...but not exactly what you might think....read it and see where the bell sound is coming from. Another cute...but short book is Marmalade's Christmas Present by Cindy Wheeler....for all the cat lover's out there.
A fellow Children's Librarian sent this link to an adorable flannel board story. Dianne was already working on it...and I hope it's done...because I want to use it tomorrow! haha It's about Rudolph and all the different colored noses he tries before he gets to the the right one! Looks perfect for a small group ....they can take turns putting the noses on the board. That should be fun.
I worked on finishing up my Christmas cards...only a handful left to go...the ones that need a little note...I save them for last. It's satisfying to send out a whole big stack....that way I know I'm making progress. Then I can slowly put out a few each day....towards the end of the month.
We got a message from a friend today "We're having a poor people's Christmas Party (from a girl who had a big bash at the Yacht Club a couple of years ago) ...BYOB and bring a dish. Well...that's right up my alley...I told John to write back and say "We're poor...we'll be there"...haha These people always have fun...it should be a great time. Tomorrow is already Thursday...this week was quick!...Dinner out to celebrate my birthday...sounds good to me!

Quick Trip

We left Saturday afternoon (after work) for Orlando. Martha and Tony were arriving from Hawaii at about 4:30pm...and we got checked in just a few minutes before that. We went to our hotel in Lake Buena Vista. A Wyndham Hotel...not bad for the price. The property was nice, convenient to Disney and had everything we needed. It was too too crowded...as it is still early in the season...I imagine as the month goes on they will book up. Lots of families with little kids...of course.

Santa display at the mall

Martha-Tony-John -Anne

wearing our new dresses...

Martha and Tony were staying down the road at the Marriott World Center Hotel...which they were told was completely sold out...something that the hotel has  not had happen in a while. Martha was attending a big conference.....and since it didn't really start until Monday...we planned to spend the day together on Sunday while John and Tony golfed. We decided to head to the Mall at Millena (of Millena...whatever it is)...and we thought it opened at 10:00am. We arrived shortly before 10:00 and should have known when we didn't see any other cars...that something was up. I figured everyone was late getting out of church or something...haha. Fortunately Starbucks was open...we went in and had a nice cup of coffee. Welll...we had to make it last since we discovered that the stores didn't actually open until 11:00. (we thought for sure there would be "holiday" hours...oh well. We sat, talked and walked around...deciding what stores we wanted to go in once they opened. The time went by pretty quickly and we had a good time shopping....especially when we went into White House Black Market! haha We left there with a couple of bags each. The saleswomen were great and we both found several things we liked.Martha was good...she managed to get everything on her shopping list...I didn't have a list...so...I didn't...but it was fun.

Entrance at the Waldorf Astoria-Orlando

We ventured into The Cheesecake Factory for lunch...it was a little crazy in there....but we only had to wait about 15-20 minutes. We had delicious salads....I'd go back anytime. We got back to the hotel around the same time the guys finished golfing. We saw Alan and Rick...some of Martha and Tony's old friends. Later that night we went to have a delicious dinner at the Bull and Bear at the Waldorf. The steaks were so good...really everything was good.
Monday morning, the guys went golfing again...we went to breakfast and then I hung out in the room while Martha went to check out some of the poster presentations. There was thick fog everywhere...and it was kind of fun to sit on the balcony of their 24th room room...and feel like I was up in the clouds. haha. It cleared out quickly enough  for the golfers...and it kept the temperature down...so I enjoyed sitting outside, reading, writing Christmas cards and just watching the goings on down below.
It was a nice long weekend....and a great way to have an early birthday celebration.
YAY! I guess I deleted enough duplicate pictures from my Picasa web albums...that   I could post pictures on my blog again....it was a shot in the dark...(isn't everything for me...haha) but I figured I didn't have a problem before I started using the program...and I knew I had lots of duplicate files...so I started deleting them....tried once...no luck...tried again...no luck...but I guess I reached the lucky number...or something...anyway the pictures are back...and they make this much more interesting....haha

November ends

During the last week I have run into several friends on the bike path, at the mall, at work. It's been kind of fun. Each day I seem to run into someone different...some of whom I haven't seen in a year or more.
I have enjoyed catching up (briefly) with everyone. Yesterday I saw Patti, today it was Lisa, Rene, Debbie and a friend, last week I visited with Karen.
The weather here has been great...we had a couple weeks of cooler, fall like weather; which really made it feel like it really was November! I have lived in Florida over 40 (yikes) years and still miss the changing seasons. Thanksgiving just seems more like Thanksgiving when it's cool and cloudy out. It's so nice to wear a long sleeved shirt/dress and not get HOT!
Brenna and her friend Josh were here for Thanksgiving. We took a boat ride up the river one afternoon. It was windy...but not too bad, especially back in the canals, where you have to keep your speed down anyway.(Manatee zone) We did see some manatees and a few dolphins. It was a great afternoon. I have pictures...but have to figure out how to add to my account so I can continue to post photos. Haven't deciphered all the "Terms of Service" yet...when I do...I'll be able to post pictures again.
We watched the exciting game between Alabama and Georgia last night. Alabama manged to pull off the win...barely. Georgia players made a tactical error right at the end that probably cost them the win...but who cares???? Alabama won again...can't wait to see the game with Notre Dame. Hope it's as exciting as the one last night.
 Of course everyone knows by now that the Gators managed to beat Florida State this year...I really didn't know if they could do it...but that was exciting and fun to watch too...especially since we came out victorious! (like I had anything to do with it...haha). (now we don't have to listen to the FSU fans for a whole year! haha)
Wedding plans are moving along...things are falling into place. We have a few other weddings coming up...my nephew Ian is engaged...no date (as far as I know) yet....our friend Lindsey is getting married in February. Next weekend Karen and Al will celebrate their son Eric's wedding...I can't wait to see the pictures and hear all about it.
Okay...I have been spending too much time on the computer lately...what I really need to do is get my holiday decorations out and start figuring out what I am putting up this year. It's only December 2nd...but somehow it feels like time is racing on and if I don't get it done....I'm going to run out of time. I don't put up my tree too early...because I like to keep it up until after the 1st of the year....but I do enjoy it while it's up. The sooner I put it all up...the sooner I can sit back and enjoy the view I guess! So...next stop is the garage...where I will get the bins and boxes down...open them and shake them around to let any unwanted "creatures" get out...then start getting things organized and up. Until next time........................

Catch up

 It's been a week or so since I wrote anything...just haven't had much going on...or I just didn't get around to writing about it. Either way...I'll catch up a little...............................These are a couple of shots from Hilton Head. The last hole on the Harbour Pines Golf course and below, the club house at the Westin Hotel's golf course. It was pretty...all the oak trees, nice big porch. We dropped off the guys and headed to the spa. Everyone had a good day!

Cool clouds at sunset in Shelter Cove Marina area

 Sunset on the marsh.

Last week John's cousin Joe was in town We met Lucy and Mac for dinner at Meg O'Malley's .downtown

.Joe had never met them so we got together for dinner.

 We had a nice dinner. Our neighbor Scotty was there and he took care of us. He offered us drinks after dinner (I had already had two champagne & raspberry liqueur cocktails)...but when he didn't get any takers...he brought us two delicious desserts instead. We all protested..."We're pretty full..." However we polished them both off in no time at all. Bread pudding and a Black and Tanner Sundae...Yum.

 Wednesday I finally made it in to read some Thanksgiving stories to Amy's class. That was fun...and I think they enjoyed the ones I picked. And then today I had Story Time... that has finally started to pick up a bit. October was slow...I was starting to think I would never get any kids to come. We read Thanksgiving and food stories...and made some pretend "Stone Soup" The kids really liked putting the" vegetables" in and stirring the" soup".
Tomorrow evening John and I are participating in the First annual "Rivalry Run"...between the local alumni from UF and FSU. It should be fun and the $$ goes to Project Hunger...a local charity dear to my heart.

YAAAAAAAAAY!

We won!
To take a line from a song I like..."I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst"....and driving past all the Romney Ryan signs yesterday made me nervous....BUT we did it! And I am so happy! Now I just hope everyone will GET TO WORK and GET SOMETHING Accomplished! And today when I listen to all the people whining (which I would have been had we lost... :) ) I will be humble and just keep smiling. But I am relieved and happy! And thank goodness we do not have to watch any more  d@#$ ads!