It's Memorial day and I must admit I am enjoying the day off...but it kind of makes me cringe when people say "Happy Memorial Day".....because it's not really a day I think about celebrating. Remebering...maybe...remembering those who lost their lives in wars, or are serving or have served. My mother lost a brother and a cousin in World War II.....and hated the idea of war. My dad and John's dad were among the lucky who went to war...but came home. My mother told my brother she would drive him to Canada herself if she had to during the Vietnam War..fortunately she didn't...but we knew how she felt. When Mark later joined the Navy...she supported him...but when he left for Lebanon (in the 80's) I know she feared the worst. Again , he was lucky, he served his time and came home unscathed. When my nephew did his two tours in Iraq...we all held our breath and prayed he would be okay. It was a tough transition (I think...he didn't say much) back to "normal" but he survived and is fine and doing really well....but he's out. I know many people who have been to war...or have children in the service...and certainly there are positive things that can come from it...but I am thankful that my children did not have to/want to go. I hope that we can get everyone out of Iraq and Afghanistan sooner rather than later...and I'll spare you my usual rant and leave it at that.
Back before Vietnam and Iraq...and whatever else in between...the annual Memorial Celebration in Bethel Park PA...was or seemed to be about "old" wars...like the Civil War......not wars that had anything to do with anyone I knew....but I was a kid. To me...it was the annual parade that wound up at the local cemetery...where there were speeches and...more importantly to us kids...hot dogs and free soda! I remember drinking more than my share of Cream Soda....and loving it! This photo is of my sister Martha and I on Memorial Day in 1963? 64?....somehow I got chosen to hold the flag and I was SO excited and proud of myself! Martha got to hold the troop flag and we were off! I remember running around, drinking soda and enjoying being in the crowd of all my friends, family and schoolmates. when we first moved to Florida in the late 60's...the schools here didn't even get the day off...something which kind of annoyed my mother. as a matter of fact...one year she even let us TAKE THE DAY OFF from school...and she and my Dad took us to Disney World. I remember this because A. my mother never let us take a day off...unless we were sick or something and B. this was back in the early years at Disney...when during the school year...in the middle of the week...you could go to Disney World and hardly anyone else would be there. So... on that one particular day...I remember walking down the street in Frontier land (near the Haunted Mansion and Hall of Presidents and other than our family and the Fife and Drum Band marching by...we were the ONLY ones on the street! That has never/will never happen again!
When the girls were little (Megan a baby...Brenna about 4) we went to Fort Wilderness with a group of friends over the Memorial Day weekend...with fond memories of that trip my family had taken... but times had changed...IT WAS PACKED! We all went to the Magic Kingdom...walked in and Main Street was jam packed with people...and John looked at me and said "It is worth $100.00 to me to leave right now!" Not wanting to go through the park with a disgruntled husband and two small children in tow...I turned around with him and we left! (Back to the campground...where it was actually kind of quiet...and we did have fun.) (I'm not sure why we didn't try to get a refund.) So we spent $50.00 (or so ) a piece to walk in...halfway down Main Street and then back out. Ahhhh...such fond memories! hahahaha Today...John and I put on red,white and blue and went to LongDoggers where else and had a hot dog (him) and a hamburger (me) and that was the extent of our "hoilday". Again it was a nice day off....and I did take a minute to remember my Uncle Howard and my mother's cousin Ray and all the others..and I am grateful for their service.

Friday Night Concert

When I was younger...I didn't really go to too many concerts... I couldn't handle the mob/crowd....so I just didn't really go too often. But now...I'm older and so are a lot of the band members and bands I have always enjoyed listening to...so when they have shows at these smaller venues it's perfect! The latest was The Psychedelic Furs and a newer band,,,She Wants Revenge. It was great!
My brother...always on top of things like this...got tickets as soon as they came out,,,and we got to reserve a booth so we could actually sit down. David's was front and center of course but our friend Heather....got a great booth on the side of the stage


There was no backstage entrance/exit...so the bands went backstage right next to our booth...I felt like a groupie...getting all excited as the bands went by surrounded by Security guys
our booth...can you tell that Heather was excited!

David, Bridget, Denise & Mike
The band on stage. The opening act.was She Wants Revenge was really good. The lead singer has a great voice and just moves on stage with a cool fluid movements...hard to explain...but just really interesting...you can see he is into the music...but not exaggerated..just smooth, easy...(several people commented on this...which I also found interesting)
Richard Butler...lead singer of the Psychedelic Furs.. We had a lot of fun all night. We met up with our usual group of friends...but saw many others too...our neighbors Scott and Tracy, LJ & Laurie and their table, Steve & Twila, Randy, Roland, Destin, Todd from WFIT, Anthony, Todd P....and a few moms from Storytime...bet they were surprised to see me there! hahaha And of course Joni O. and I who both leaned in at the same time and bonked heads....the 2 glasses of champagne and one glass of wine might have been a factor! We both cracked up! Can't wait for the next event...Heather and I have it all figured out...she knows the guy who produced the event...we have to get him to do a Retro 80's night...(alternative 80's) so we can go out dancing to music We LIKE! sometime! We'll see

Friends celebrating

I mentioned Megan was home for the weekend to attend a friend's wedding. She has been friends with Chelsea since elementary school...and she enjoyed getting together with some of the girls she's been friends with since about 2nd grade. Like...Erika here with Megan and John on a trip to Fort Wilderness
or when Allison, Megan and Chelsea(?)(and Peyton) were in a group chosen to be part of the "World's Largest Chorus" or something like that over at EPCOT. ( Allison 3rd from left and Megan on bottom right)
or at Megan's (American Girl) 50's Bowling Birthday party.
Allison and Megan at one of our back yard "carnival" parties.
A.,A.,A.,C.,G.,L.& Megan at 6th grade graduation doesn't seem that long ago!
and the now college graduates...Allison in Pharmacy program at UF, Erika just graduated from Clemson University..(with a degree in Recreation...just like me:)!) off to Honduras to work on a Divemasters (?) program and Megan ( currently one semester away from getting her Masters at George Mason University) all enjoying a little break between school and work and real life! hahha
A., Chelsea, Megan and Erika

Megan all ready to go. The wedding was in the evening...ouside at the Hilton on the beach. Thank goodness all the love bugs had temporarily moved out...because Chelsea's mom was a nervous wreck wondering if her daughter was going to walk down the aisle in a swarm of love bugs!...Happy to report they were all gone for the time being...Megan really enjoyed seeing all her old friends again...during college their breaks didn't always fall at the same time....or one was here one was there...etc....so this was the first time in 2-4 years that she was together with the girls. They all are happy and looking forward to what's next...enjoying the summer/weeks off before reality sets in...haha I enjoyed seeing them all too!

Shuttle landing!

I am so excited....for the first time ever I got to watch the shuttle as it made it's way back to land at the Cape! we've seen it carried back on the Boeing jet Depending on the route it's taking...you can always hear the sonic boom (like a double boom from a large firework) BOOM BOOM....but I have never been able to SEE it....until today. it figures...there are only two launches left! But it was so exciting!...I looked out into the clear blue sky and I heard the booms and then I spotted it off in the distance....I knew it was the Shuttle because (for obvious reasons there wasn't going to be any other air traffic in the area!) It was heading north towards the cape then it looped around to the south...for a few minutes I thought hoped that maybe it was going to come directly over my house...hahaha...which it did not....but it was so cool! You will have to use your imagination to understand how exciting it was to see this little tiny thing off in the distance in my photo...hahaha...but it's there!
An it was really really cool...for lack of a better word!

home again, home again

One of Megan's friends got married this past Saturday...so Megan flew in for the weekend so she could attend. School is out, and even though Megan just started a new job (summer position)...she has had the ticket since December...so the trip was still on. First order of business say hi to Kiena and then...lay in the sun to get a little color.
Even when she was in Florida, Megan was not one to lie in the sun...but she lathered on the sunscreen and gave it a go.....
There were a few requests...a trip to the Blueberry Muffin for breakfast, a chocolate chip bagel from Corey's Bagels, some fresh fish (no problem!),a roast (sorry never got that...ran out of days)and a trip to Disney World......"but of course I can go with you to Disney World!!"She had a few relaxing days, spent time with some friends...(all of whom are either recently graduated and back in town before starting new jobs,in between semesters, getting ready for internships, grad school or________.) She went to the beach...to Longdoggers,to Disney with me, the wedding, Sebastian Inlet...and then I dropped her off in Orlando this morning for her flight home :(... However we will see her again in 3 weeks when we head up to the Boardwalk art Show in Virginia Beach. More photos tomorrow...right now...I'm off to dreamland....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Love Bugs

Urban legend has it that Love Bugs are the result of an experiment gone bad at University of Florida.....and when they descended out of nowhere this past week..(.seriously it was like one minute it was hot and muggy...the next these bugs were EVERYWHERE!) the story was out again. Only I didn't remember ever hearing about the love bug/UF connection...and...
I went to UF AND recently read Gator Tales...by a favorite former professor...Julian Pleasants (best history teacher EVER) and didn't remember seeing anything about it in there either...so I was skeptical....
so naturally I googled it...and it turns out the bug larvae live in grass areas and feed on thatch and hatch about twice a year. When they hatch there can be hundreds of thousands of them...and I believe there were a couple of days ago!This year was/is a banner year....they seemed to be everywhere the other day. Piled up in the center of the highway, on windshields and bumpers everywhere...and the worst image...ALL OVER the front door and window at the local Friendly's ...like some kind of horror movie.
They make a mess on your car...but thank goodness they don't BITE!...or no one could go outside. I even ventured out on my bike...sunglasses on, visor low so they couldn't slip in between ....and no smiling or yawning allowed.... had to shake off my shirt a few times as they started collecting on me...but all in all...it wasn't too bad.

More graduation day fun

I had to work yesterday...but John did not...and because the ocean conditions were not good for fishing as planned...he was able to attend Melbourne High School's graduation ceremony.

When Megan graduated it was a major battle between the students and the principal...about whether or not to have the graduation on the football field. One year it rained and it was a complete mess...no back-up plan...and the one they came up with worked but not many were happy about it. The next year they held it at a local church (comfortable, air-conditioned) but seating was very limited and the students were disappointed. Megan's class (2006) signed a petition to have it back at the school on the field...after many heated discussions...the administration gave in. It was a beautiful day and the students were happy...and they've been on the field ever since. But back to the story...John's god daughter, Jordan, graduated yesterday. John surprised her by attending.
Happy graduates!

Where do they come from....?????????

Okay...so I checked the current moon and it's definitely NOT full... it's a waning crescent...in case you're interested so that's not it...but the crazy people were definitely coming out of the wood work today!
I arrived at work just as the library was opening...so it's walk in, put your stuff down and jump right in! First customer was regular patron...who likes to read and is...shall we say...a little demanding. I realized one of our volunteers was helping at the desk and she's never encountered said patron before and was looking a little nervous...so I jumped in to rescue her from KG, This lady puts many books on reserve and that's good for our business....but she just has a way of making you feel like you should be doing more...FOR HER! She's always in a hurry.....today...because the dog was in the car...but while the volunteer was doing her best to look up her card number because even though she's in the library at least 3-4 times a week...she isn't willing to spend $1.00 (!) for a replacement card she was busy rattling off numbers...only causing the voluterr to get more confused....oh well enough about her!
Next I had a nice couple new to the area...no problem...got them cards..sent them on their way...things were looking up...but then.....
next woman comes up to the desk and tells me she needs to renew her book. I told her I'd be happy to do that as long as no one else was waiting for it....here's how the conversation went.....
ME-As long as no one's waiting for it we can renew it for a week.
HER-Well they can't have it...I'm not done with it.
Me- (smiling) Well I need to check....
HER- Oh trust me...no one wants it.
**I suggested that sometimes we check to see if there are any holds...if there are the patron can just keep it and pay the overdue fees...oh no no no....that wasn't going to happen.
Luckily no one else was waiting...we got it renewed...then
HER- Oh I just remembered I got a call yesterday that I had a book in that I requested...I can't remember what the hell I wanted"
ME- Oh no problem....I'll look it up. (I looked....nothing on reserve...which means it probably was sent back.)
Me- Let me check paperwork down at reference in case we sent it back...(found the paper...called her on the 6th...sent it back on the 10th.)
Me- I'm sorry ma'am but it looks like we called you on the 6th
Her-No I got the call yesterday
Me- Well there's a note here on the paperwork....(for this very reason.)..I didn't say that!
Her-interrupting me..."I don't care what that says...I got the call yesterday"
I offered to reserve it again...she declined the offer and thankfully...went on her way.

NEXT..........I notice Irma down in Reference talking to a man...shaking her head...next thing we know he's walking into the staff area talking to our volunteer Jack...who had JUST walked in. as Jack put it...I saw this guy motioning to me and sort of waving...I thought he knew me from somewhere.
Iram was behind him...told him he could not go back there...he was okay with that...then
HIM- Listen...I just need to get an email address from someone...I have the solution to the problem in the Gulf of Mexico...and I have it typed up ready to send to the White House...but I need a return address.
ME-"Well you can't have anything sent to the Library...it's against the policy.
HIM- Oh I know...I could use your email address....
***I have never laid eyes on this guy before this...I don't think so!
Me- Sorry I don't have one you can use
Him- without batting an eye..."Well, Let me ask her" and he moved on to Heather.
ME- Can't you open an account online?
Irma- Sir...you really can't go around asking everyone in the library..
He did leave...and got back on the computer...don't know if he sent the email...But if you hear about a new miracle solution...it could be from our friend in Melbourne Beach!
The day did get better from then on...TG! I was starting to get nervous...this was all in the first 20 minutes!
We did have the usual questions....... I'm looking for a book...it's red.....I moving...I need to cancel my card and get all the info out of your computer system....OK that's a new one...except then she didn't have her card number? Hard to cancel it if we don't know who you are! Nancy suggested that she come in with an ID.
A book returned with a little blob of sunscreen and a pile of sand in it....first I thought it was frosting and ants,,,,hahaha. Ahh...I love my job!

GraduationTime

It's graduation time again and this year we have several friends/relatives who will be or already have graduated. John's god daughter graduates next week. (Next year she'll attend BCC.) Our nephew graduates later this month...don't think he's made his final decision...but maybe he has... One of Megan's friends, Claudia, whose parents have been so kind to Megan, graduated Saturday from Emory University. (so did Arielle)
Mikayla D pictured here with Pat T. ,her mom & I...was the youngest graduate from Florida Tech..or FIT as I still think of it. Mikayla graduated with a 4.0 and is waiting to find out where she'll go to medical school. She's 20 years old. The president of the university made it a point to acknowledge her at the ceremony Friday night.
Caitlin and her friend Aaron...along with several other kids Megan went to High School with graduated last Saturday from UF. Her parents had a little get together for her yesterday. Caitlin's off to UCF for graduate school next year, Aaron is looking for a job.....
Here's Caitlin, her mom and a friend. After yesterday's celebration...and it was a fun , relaxing afternoon.... (It reminded me of the celebrations we had for Megan (May 2008) and Brenna (August 2008)...it was such a happy fun time...a great celebration of a big accomplishment.)..and I was glad to be able to join Caitlin and her friends yesterday.) We were trying to decide what to do for Mother's Day.
Since the girls are not in town (Megan up at George Mason) Brenna working in DC...we didn't have anyone here to celebrate with. We didn't want to go out to eat..Mother's Day is a nightmare at a restaurant as far as I'm concerned We got up, took a walk and then decided to invite some friends over for fresh fish. Our friends Ben and Jess traded us shrimp for fish...so John boiled that up too. Benn and Jess, John & I and John M (with shrimp he'd caught)came. We grilled the fish and some of the shrimp...yum yum! Tom S. and his son came over along with 3 friends to help eat some of the feast. Then Chris and Heather and their girls joined us. It was nice having Ellie and Julia...almost like having Brenna and Megan (when they were little ) here! haha Ellie always calls me "AnneKaminski" all one word...Heather gets a big kick out of that.>
I think they like to come here because I have toys in the closet that they get to play with when they come over....today it was the fishing game and some old puzzles. We had fun! And....... there was the cake I bought...because the graduation party DID NOT have one! It's not a party without a cake from Publix!...as far as I'm concerned..so I bought a Mother's Day cake...hahaha with this on it! Ellie and I enjoyed a piece! (no one else was interested!...We didn't care!)
Now...I better go to bed or I'll be tired at work.............................

The kitchen again

So I've been trying to figure out what artwork(?) I'm going to put in the newly designed kitchen...since the decorative tiles I had in there before don't really match the new look. I still don't know for sure...but last night I got an idea. Several years ago when we were in Hawaii...I found these cute alphabet flash cards...sort of vintage looking, fun prints. I thought I could maybe use them for work (matching game or something)...I didn't really know...but I knew I wanted them...hahaha
Anyway...I got to thinking maybe I could put some in a frame or group of frames and use them in the kitchen. (I have this thing for alphabet "stuff" for lack of a better word I just like it. I have a Mother Goose Alphabet poster, I cross-stitched letters onto a blanket...I just like finding different illustrated alphabet things I guess.) I loved these cards when I saw them...and I figured someday I'd figure out a way to use them. And I think they might work! I picked out my favorite illustrations in the set...put them in this frame...it holds 7... Now I just have to figure out if I'm stopping there...or using them all.(doubtful) I hung them on the existing nail/hook just to see how they'd look...but the wall hasn't been painted yet...so it's not exactly the finished look.
Also...our tile for the "insert" on the back splash came in. John picked an Onyx tile...which for some reason I thought was black...turns out onyx means "a stone like marble with different colors in layers" (according to my trusty Oxford American Dictionary)...and it is perfect!
First shot is the tile when it's dry and next one is what it looks like wet...it will have the "highlighted" colors when it's sealed. It is transparent or translucent (?) the light passes through it allowing the various colors to show through...it will be perfect with the counter top and the field tile.
John had gone in to Design Studios to order the other tile we had selected....and then he saw a sample of this...as soon as he saw it he knew this was exactly what he had been looking for and I think he's right! It's going to look great!

Kitchen project continues

I had the day off yesterday...because I had a dental appointment in the afternoon. John was working on a friend's kitchen back splash this week...and I guess he decided it was time to get something going on our own back splash.
John had a design in mind...he was just kind of waiting to see what paint color I wanted and tying up some other loose ends on jobs he's working on...but yesterday he was ready to go. When he heard I was off...he made a plan for us to "just go look" at Lowe's. "No rush, we're just looking..." Okay off to breakfast and then Lowe's.
He showed me the tumbled marble he had in mind and we came home with a bag full of samples to look at and compare. We decided pretty quickly...and then one thing lead to another and the next thing you know...Mark arrived and the two of them were installing the tile behind the stove area.
So far I love it. We selected a different tile for a pattern to go in the "picture frame"...but it's on order. In the meantime John saw another one he really liked...so he's going to bring home a sample of that and let me compare and decide.
here's a peek at the counter top, the field tile and the paint sample.