A Kodak or Skype Moment!

Every Sunday morning I have a date...with Donna and Jeff. Yep, we're skyping. So when I was summoned to my computer that Jeff and Donna were calling.  This  is what greeted me! I couldn't stop laughing and neither could he.

It was very cold in Virginia and he had been outside shoveling snow and I could just feel his coldness...Skype is that good!

As I glance at this merriment, it brings back memories when Jeff was about 3 l/2 ...he had a little snow shovel and he was really working hard with his father...both removing heavy snow.
I was standing looking out of our picture window and Jeff

was wearing the same attire as in this picture.   When they came back in the house, I had hot cocoa with marshmallows for my men-folk...these sturdy removers of snow

And now....here he is once again....with that same silly lovable grin on his face.

Keep Smiling Jeff !!!!

We're Safe...for this year at least!!

Lots of people claim they wouldn't want to make Florida their retirement home because of our hurricanes.

They are awful...and I've lived through a couple...and it wasn't pleasant.    Actually scary to say the least, especially when  you've lost your power for 8 days...and the nights are sooooo very dark.

There's a song I used to sing to myself during these periods...."Hello Darkness My Old Friend--I've Come to Be With You Again".

Anyway, High Point, my development discovered the way to prevent the horrors of hurricanes....they bought a generator....and I pass this everyday on my way to our pool, and it's the best un-used thing we own.

The batteries are patiently waiting...my propane grill is properly full...my hurricane lamps fit nicely on my end table....and the battery fan is hidden safely away in a closet.

So....I'll use my cans of tuna and my salmon..spread my peanut  butter on some of the bread that I've frozen away...for when it  was needed.

Yippee......I won't worry for another year.

The Event!

Everytime I think I'm running out of material for my blog I just have to look around me and think!     I'm so fortunate in having so many things to talk about.

A few weeks ago, or I should go back about a month ago, I received a precious bejeweled invitation to Ruth Fagan's 85 birthday party.  Now to look at my friend, you'd never believe that this was this special birthday.   In fact, Ruth didn't think so either...because written on her birthday (loaded with calories) cake was written....Happy 75th!   And she's absolutely right..today's 85th is ten years going back counter clockwise.     Actually, truth be told, Ruth looks much younger than that and her wardrobe attests to this.

I was really looking forward to this.....event of the season.      

To find Ruth's house, her friend Faye went to the dollar store and bought 2 beautiful helium  balloons which she hung on Ruth's outdoor post...announcing  to her  guests...you're here...you've arrived!

Ruth hired Cornelius, our High Point employee,  to help serve and clean up...along with entertaining because he has a beautiful voice.....and he sang a touching gospel number that he has recorded.

This wasn't the only entertainment of the evening....two members of Temple Beth El entertained us with music and a darling skit.

Ruth had filled up her whole house with friends and relatives.......and we all really pigged out on all the food catered by 3 G's restaurant.

Ruth had  ordered so much that I was invited back the next day to eat leftovers much to my delight.

We  all had such a good time that we stayed about 4 hours which is a long time when your hostess is exhausted.

The guests left with a large 'goodie  bag'  filled with all kinds of delightful presents.

My greatest present is the lasting delicious memory  of this special party...wih this special friend...and the enthusiasm and joy she put into this party.  

The chicken or the egg...or the lyricist or composer !!!!!

It's always bothered me about music.   I love to hear songs sung...with poetic lyrics.  Now country music tells a complete story in so much detail that I don't enjoy listening.

But...let's take "Over the Rainbow"...the lyrics we all know were written by Yip Harburg.   His name will not go down in musical history...but the melody and words certainly will.....and the music of course was composed by Harold Arlen, a familiar name for many compositions.

When Jeff was in third grade, he was in a piano musical recital...and that was his song.   Of course, his father and I thought he was sensational.

It all started a year before.   We had placed an ad in our local Valley Daily News in the classifieds...wanted cheap piano for beginner.

Somebody 3 streets away read our need because she phoned within an hour after the paper was delivered.

She had in her basement an old upright player piano with bench..asking price $10.00.  How fantastic for  us.   We hired a mover and he had a problem getting this through our front door.

The guy said to us...how about us sliding it into your garage,  then into your basement.  

No way was our son going to practice in a cold damp cellar.      So  our front doorway was   goughed getting it in.

Allen painted it the same color as  our living room...and padded the bench with foam rubber so that little Jeff's tush would be comfortable.

Then we hired a blind piano tuner and he removed the player guts which were all rotted...another $25.00.

The piano teacher came to the house weekly to give Jeff ,  Schaum  lessons....simplified but to  this mother's ears sounded like Carnegie Music Hall.    I even took the phone off the hook so that he wouldn't be interrupted.

But back to lyricists Tim Rile wrote the words for Evita.     We all know  about Andrew Lloyd Webber....but not a thing about Tim.

Charles Hart wrote the lyrics  for Phantom of the Opera.....another unknown .

So....I'm trying to figure out if  the lyrics are as important as the music.!!!!!!!!!  I kinda believe that the words are more important.

But anyway...Jeff's recital was a complete success...his family made up the audience!

The stove that cooked with the gas turned off! My Chambers!

I believed them...so being newly married, I invited Allen's parents and sister for dinner.

I had purchased a special cut of roast that smells delicious and was supposed to be fork-tender.

Anyway after reading the instructions on my new stove...advising me to set the thermostat to 500 degrees for 15 minutes....then turning the stove off completely.

It never even occurred to me to check it...to open the oven door to take a peek. I believed!

So...3 hours later I invite everyone to sit down and Allen is so proud...entertaining for the first time.


It wasn't true...the roast was uncooked and cold. It never also occurred to me to write the Chambers Company a letter about what had happened.

Of course, the end of my story...we had to take everyone out to dinner..and my first experience was a failure. I never again did cook with the oven turned off.

The really great part of this Cadillac of a stove was the grill on the left. You just pumped up the handle...and and it made the most delicious lamb chops and hamburgers.

It also had a deep soup well at the rear right which I didn't use too often. I used my Presto pressure cooker instead.

Very heavy stove...400 pounds...and probably the most expensive thing we had in our home.

Rachel Rae still uses this stove for her 30 minute meals. Wonder if she cooks with the the heat turned off.   Maybe one day I'll email and ask. 

 This stove also had removable handles to remove to protect little children.....and is considered a
collectible today.

When we moved to Florida I hated to say good  bye to it...the end of my gas cooking.


 

The Second Hand on a Watch--an annoyance!

 My friend Harriet...and I might include myself also, find the second hand troublesome..it gets in the way.

However, I shouldn't complain...we've come a long way from the sun dial.  Wonder if  I'd have ever been able to figure that our.   My brain is very challenged when it comes to numbers.

No more tick tocks to listen if your watch is actually working.   I guess I look at the second hand and that gives me the nod whether I need a new battery.

However, batteries are $3 and $4 and a new watch can be bought for $10 or $12...so I guess watches that aren't expensive can be considered disposable.

About 20 years ago I bought my husband Allen a new watch from K Mart with many features, which were a pain in the butt, but I wasn't aware of it when I purchased it.   I thought it was just fantastic.

Well, between the 2 of us, we weren't very technologically-sophisticated...so when daylight savings time approached, we were very frustrated.    After many hours of Allen's working on this new device, I had the bright idea....this watch is very  inexpensive.      So...why not buy another one...just for daylight savings time.....and then we'd never have to worry about this again.

After all.....we moved to Florida to play....not to have to study the workings of this thing.

As I'm writing this, an old old song comes to mind....about My Grandfather's Clock was to large for the shelf...and it stood 90 years on the floor.   It was taller by far than the old man himself....anyway, this song must be over  100 years old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3tlIMJ9bK0     Jeff used to play this song on the piano.

Back to the 2nd hand.......I believe we just have to learn to live with it....it's not removable....and time is such an abstract...it moves so fast and yet so slowly.........and I'm trying to make the most of it.

Time is a gift from Our Creater and we must cherish each day.   I do !

A time for Introspection !

Jewish people all over the world celebrate these High Holidays, Our Days of Awe, and we seriously

try to correct our bad habits that we've developed over the years, and try to discipline ourselves into becoming better human beings.

 So...I'm thinking !    I'm considered an old lady now, although somehow they've changed the pattern and this age is considered about 10 years younger.   I haven't discussed this with an actuary, so I don't know how accurate this is.

I'm trying to figure out what I've accomplished in my life...or if I've rubbed off on anyone to make a difference in their life.    And the answer is plain and simple.....NOT REALLY.

I went to a funeral the other day and one of the mourners stood up and spoke...and it appears that the main things in this man's life was he loved to gamble...and he liked soup....but according to his kids, this  made him a great man.

Would Nixon be considered a superior human being, although he had that one big blemish on his record. 

Could be that we're all flawed and that's what makes us human!

I think maybe we're important only to ourselves and we're all held accountable for every deed.

So...I'll just live with  those thoughts...and  maybe try a little harder.

We need the immigrants!! And they need us

I wondering what America thinks of the really hard workers who do very manual labor....

For those of us living in villas and condominiums, the immigrant men keep our lawns well manicured.

I was watching from out my back window...backbreaking work....never stopping for a second even though they're not being watched.

Raking..raking...making a pile then putting all the debris into a large cylinder container...to be emptied into their trucks.

I'm sure they don't make much money...not even sure if they have hospitalization or social security.

They are willing to live in incredibly substandard housing — witness all the garage renovations found in foreclosure housing. They are willing to live with others in a room in houses full of strangers. For these reasons, for many employers, they are more desirable as employees

They're very poor people....but very hard working.   Wonder if they find contentment when they fill up the big dump truck....to be moved on to the next location.

Are they thinking about their families back in Mexico, Guatamala or Colombia...or wherever...and of the money that they'll be sending home.

Rice and beans...one's a starch and the other a legume.   Is their enough nourishment so that they can labor another day.

I wonder what all the fuss is about ... immigration!   They're doing us a favor!    Donald Trump, I wonder if you have any kind of a conscience.


What goes around ... comes around

I snapped this picture while we were Skyping...miraculous isn't it!

 

This is how I spend my Sunday mornings..or I should say, how Jeff and Donna share their Sunday mornings with me.

First we visit! I see these two dear faces, including Bandit, one of their beagles who always wants to hug them when we're visiting.

Then I tell them how I messed up the computer...and they never act impatient or irritated..they just go to my desktop and link on to Teamviewer...and then I sit back and watch them take over.

They said everything is fixable...even my printer...even though they're in Virginia and I'm in Florida.

I glance at the time and realize we've spent 2 hours or more together. We air-throw kisses to each other and say...bye...till next Sunday.

All dressed up with no place to go!

Sometimes fate intercedes and plans falter. This is what happened to my friend and neighbor Ruth Fagan. Ruth was looking forward to her granddaughter's wedding for about a year. She shopped and shopped for a dress because she wanted to look like a modern grandma, which she is.

Well, date of the wedding approaches and Ruth is sick...double whammy...she's really physically ill...but she's also sick about not being able to attend this special ceremony that has deep meaning to her.

So...the best laid plans.....and so the saying goes....

...If anyone is Ruth's size...she'll probably gladly lend it to you..shame to let it go to waste....and she has excellent taste. Too bad I'm not her size...I have two weddings coming up.

Itsy Bitsy Spider....

When I go into my master bathroom, the first thing I do is look into the tub to see if any of my critters have arrived...and sure enough...there are spiders...small ones and big ones.

They don't seem to have a lot of energy...move very slowly...so I guess a sheet of kleenex and make a small pouch into a ball and I toss it into the toilet.   One day I hadn't flushed after I had urinated and I threw the spider in and felt bad all day.

At least I could have given him clean water to expire in...it was not the human thing to do.

I felt unclean.   God did put all these creatures on earth for a purpose...and maybe he cobbles up small bugs.   It is a dog eat dog world.    I really have to admire the ants...they carry 10 times their weight and they're very hard workers.

Take a queen bee...she has all those workers doing her bidding.    I wonder in the bee world if she has a lot of sex appeal...or I should say bee appeal............maybe her honey is sweeter.

I haven't gotten in the lives of love bugs...but they're always together.... I don't know who's on top of whom...I know they don't bother us...their hormones should be raging.

The  only bug that I could never ever dispose of is the lady bug....we treat her with respect!  After all she is a lady....and is wearing a beautiful red dotted coat.

Perhaps I owned one sometime in my life.

Our Independence Day!

...I do believe we need a July 4th every year!    Our economical spirits are at such a low ebb for most of us right now...that when we see the brilliant fireworks...it triggers an emotional outlet for most of us that sends our happiness  spiraling.  Then we listen to all the marching patriotic music and this outlet lets us feel that the grand old U.S. is still Number One...giving a feeling of optimism, along with desperation.

Some of us, however, believe that the money spent on all the fireworks could help the people cope whose unemployment has run out.    This does make sense.

We're not number one anymore.   I watched the spelling bee in Washington D.C. on TV and the stars were Indians and Asians.  The culture didn't stem from us.   We've fallen by the wayside.

Technology parts and components for computers, cars, cameras...and I could go on and on...all come from China.

I want and need to feel proud again!    I want our country recognized for what it should stand for.

Not CEO's taking enormous profits and bonuses and then  quitting the firm.      What happened to the word obligation.    Do they not think about the people at all?????

Will we ever get on track again?     I do see small kindnesses all around me...and this I cherish.

Can we make this a nation of kindnesses once again ???

They Walk Among us !

This morning a friend phoned and asked if I would pick up a prescription for her.     I rushed right out but when I got there, it wasn't ready and I was told to have a seat.

The woman next to me was complaining because she had to get up at 7 this morning because her girl couldn't come to walk her dog.

I said that she's lucky to be able to have a dog.    She said she's very lucky.   She lives at King's Point where they don't permit dogs either except under certain circumstances.

She informed me that you have to know how to use the system!

Then she gave kind of a side-ways smile and said if it was between whether she could have a dog or her husband....she would keep the dog!

I love dogs too...but what a statement!    And that's how I started my day!

Could It Be That I'm a Snob?????

I went into the waiting room of the doctor's office today to pick up a prescription and I thought I was in the wrong building.

There were about 25 white haired ladies sitting around a very long table and they were having such fun...it was set up for bingo and they were all participating and excited.   There were salt free pretzels on the table and diet drinks.

I was so startled that I just stood there.   Finally I walked over to the desk and the girl sitting at a computer asked if I wanted to play.

I told her I'm not a bingo person and I asked if she was.   And she answered of course she is.
   
I feel that I'm not ready to waste an afternoon playing a silly game.....it kind of reminded me of a nursing home....and that's what turned me off!
I know that there are different sets of senior citizens.   The ones who are in their middle 60's...and then the older ones like me..who really can't believe they're old.   But I guess I look old because people offer to help carry my packages.    I know they're being thoughtful...but I can't stand it.

A few weeks ago I was in a waiting room and someone walked in with a cane.. much much younger...and I started to get up to give them my seat...and then I thought....whatever will they think...this old lady getting up for them.

I'm told our age is only a number....but this has been bothering me...so I thought I'd verbalize it and maybe it will all go away.

Help....I don't want to be OLD!

Can't use that excuse...I"M TOO BUSY !!

Now that I have a GPS...I don't have to drive to the library any longer.   I have my digital Reader.

Now that I have tons of note papr (gifts from friends) I don't need to write...I just send e mails.

Now that I can drive to the movies...I have a DVD.

Now that I have some money in the bank...I just use my charge card.    And I don't even need to balance my checkbook.   Everyday my bank sends me (free of charge) my balance and how much deposited and how much spent.   I don't even have to write checks for my telephone, chargecard or electric..it's automatically deducted from my checking account.

Now that I have a juicer...you can buy it just as fresh in the supermarket.  

I haven't had to shake my dust mop out for many years...I have a SWIFTER...and you just discard the soiled sheets....and  you have instant dustfree floors.

My biggest chore it seems to to load and unload my dishwasher.  I don't have to wash them any longer..and they come cleaner. 

I don't need to look any information up any longer...in two seconds I enter it into my search engine...and I have all the facts...(oh I'm so smart)..

Now that I have time to watch my favorite television shows...I have TIVO!

 I haven't had to wind a watch for many years...it's all digital.  And when did it become fashionable when I ask someone what time it is...they'll answer 12:43.    Whatever happened to quarter to 1 ?

  If I can't fall asleep...Paul and Barbara gave me a sound machine to simulate sounds of water to make me drowsy and put me in a state

Now that.....THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION!     The answer is....I need a DOG and a pooper scooper.

That will give me plenty of work...but alas...we're not permitted to own one here.

But maybe...just maybe..........

I'm Not Trying To Hang Myself!

My grownup kids, God Bless Them are trying to keep me alert and healthy.

And I do truly appreciate their efforts. I'm supposedly invincible like an everready battery that  keeps going on and ON.

I'm ashamed to admit to them that without them I couldn't do any thing.

For instance..Jeff and Donna installed this pulley on my door to strengthen MY SHOULDERS, ARMS AND hands and i'm to do THIS 4 TIMES A DAY 30 TIMES AT A SHOT. One arm goes down while the other arm pulls way up. Hopefully it will help my arthritis.

The Burger's got me a Digital Reader and I'm trying to load free books from our library...and so far I'm very frustrated because when I go to download a book...nothing happens. I don't like giving in...I want them to think I can do it all by myself.

I don't believe Jeff and Donna can HELP me since they don't own a reader.

This blog was written late Saturday nite.   Every Sunday morning, Jeff, Donna and I use the webcam.

This morning I explained my lack of being able to download free books from the Palm Beach Library.

They understood.  Not only did they virtually go into my Palm Beach Library, but they were able to install the library books I had ordered  into my Sony Reader.

These are    14 day books...so in that length of time, these books will just disppear from my Reader.

MAGIC !!!!!!

I love my family so much...because they really seem to care about this little old lady.

I thank God for them and I'm really trying hard to keep up with this digital world.

I guess first I'll have to learn to read instructions. I'm not complaining...honestly. I'm grateful!... and now it's 

really time for me to get back to my bedroom door and tug at those ropes...up down...down...up...and away we go!

Company's comin!

It's time again for me to re-activate my house....cause company's comin!    Yep...it's Jeff and Donna and I want everything to be just perfect...but you know what they say about mice and men.

Anyway...time for me to empty out the two top drawers of my chest of drawers.   Donna likes to unpack although they're only staying 3 days....then vacationing on the Caribbean.

My cooking is almost non existent.   I use my George Foreman almost everyday...and I'm happy with the results.

Hard to believe that I cooked for a family and tried to make my meals interesting.   That's why every couple of weeks I invite Harriet over...just to make sure I know how to present an interesting meal...and she most of the time appreciates my results.   Not every time though...sometimes I try to get too creative and I flop. 

Think for their first night I'll bake chicken breasts and make a casserole...everything in one dish.

They're easy people to please...at least they tell me it's good...but who knows what goes on behind closed doors.    I'm only teasing...my grown up kids are very kind and are really helpful.   ] have absolutely no complaints.

Nobody throws a fit....the tone here is harmony.

So...now I have to pray for good weather...but if it's not great, they'll just have to enjoy my company.

Please let the sun come out ... and let strength spring from the rays....after all, this is Florida...our Paradise on Earth! 

Senior learning!

Last week my friend Harriet and I decided we'd  like to join a group of seniors on a trip to St. Petersburg, Fl.  on a venture called Grandedventures.

It's a little pricey but we enjoyed our vacation at a new Hilton Hotel which was beautiful and our home away from home for a week.

We both felt we needed a little time away from our reservation  here at High Point to see new faces and study new people and courses.   There was a so-called religious man who came with a pretty woman whom I assumed was his wife.   He wore 4 different colored skull caps every day and he was constantly quoting from the Bible.   During one of my gossip sessions, I found out they were shacking up together.   I still get shocked!    What's wrong with me!   He  changed yarmulkes (skull caps) like a woman switching earrings.

The classes we attended were very interesting...and some of the speakers were familiar to us...the Russian Orthodox priest talking about his wife and their belief in the Trinity.   We also were happy to reunite with our music lady talking about Cole Porter...and the next day showing us clips of Gene Kelly and that he came from Pittsburgh where I come from and that he had a dance studio where he gave lessons early on.

We spent New Year's eve listening to the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.   I have never seen such a huge stage..and we didn't just listen to the music of the masters...but we watched magical ballet and heard lots of opera.   I was entranced.   Perfect.   My only complaint...everything was in German...and I still haven't forgiven them for the Halacaust.

The food at the hotel was all right.   We all got served the same menu and there weren't too many complaints .   Anything served to me is good.   Let's face it...I'm getting very lazy.  All the deserts were sugar free which wasn't such a great idea because to some people the artificial stuff is poison in their bodies.

Our week was good...went very fast.   We were very cold so we wern't able to take the boat ride offered...but we did get to see the Barnum-Ringling Bros. Circus Museum.

One man spent 50 years  building a matchbox scale of the circus....and that really interested me...such detail....  He included all the trains, animals, performers, tents, and even how they prepared their food....and the dishes they used... a view into their lives and how  hard these people worked to install the tents and then a day later...take it all down again....and do it in another city.

In those days, many of the artists were considered freaks of nature...the bearded lady...twins joined together,,, Siamese and which they're able to separate today.....dwarfs and very tall people over 7 feet.

All that is changed today.   I do remember the day the circus would come to our town and we were all excused from school to watch the circus parade with their big elephants and Arabian Horses.   What a treat that was.

I recall that one year they were selling periscopes for 25 cents.   That was a lot of money when you're 8 years old...but the vendor promised that I would be able to look behind me to see the homework of a classmate.   I fell for it..and was I ever disappointed.  But that was decades ago.

/Returning home from our trip we experienced a massive blowout on our bus tire.    Not every garage can accommodate a bus....so we waited almost 3 hours.   The bus company sent another bus from Miami...but in the meantime a garage came....so we were rescued.

While all this excitement was happening,  Seth who owns Grandedventures brought all of us wine, crackers, cheese and little veggies.   There was such a feeling of camarderie on that bus that we hadn't experienced all week....so everything serves a reason.  When Seth, his wife and son boarded our bus while we were delayed he was received with such applause...he'd come to save us!

I'm glad I went...I'm glad I'm home!

China

I finally found something that I'd like to pass on to my readers.   Although, we don't even have to look anymore...just about everything is made in China...which is not a compliment to our country.  They're so up on everything and I don't know how that came to pass.   They used to be fenced in by their great wall...but guess what...they're very smart people and enterprising...and they've really come out of their closet so to speak.   They're now even encouraging their citizens to have more than one child.  I found this to be very interesting...and we should know it.

Know Your Barcodes:  




Even though the FDA is finally addressing the possible introduction of Melamine laced dairy into the US market from China, there is still no legislation forcing manufacturers to clearly disclose where products are made. Thankfully, consumers are no longer “buying blind.” There is one way to determine the originating country of a particular item – the barcode.



The next time you are are wondering where a product is made, check out the first three numbers of the barcode. If the digits are 690-695, then it is made in China. 
 
Now we know and it's affecting our health....so .. forewarned !!!

How much is a trillion dollars???

A million seconds is only 11.57 days

A billion seconds is 31.7 years

Obviously in today's world we need to add a trillion seconds, which is 317 centuries, or far longer than history.

We don't hear about thousands anymore...nope.

Nor do we hear much about millions....

What we are hearing daily is the word trillions. Scary....especially since we have such a big unemployment rate.

Tell these poor people about all the stimulus packages....and you don't see encouragement or happiness. No...we're seeing despair.

People want to work....working is good for the soul and spirit...so please, government, create more jobs in this country.

I don't know why I feel I have to write this.....I guess it makes me feel better!

We were an independent mom and pop toy store and I was thinking the other day as I was strolling through a super Walmart store, that thank God we're not in business any longer....we would have been among the unemployed.

Does President Obama have any idea at all what a trillion dollars is that he's handing out so freely. I would love to know...or Ben Bernake? Who knows!!!

A Broken Heart!

Monday afternoons will always find me at Hagen Ranch School. I work in an after-school program volunteering to help students with homework studies and reading books.

This year I've been working with 2 little girls, Ashley and Giselle, both eager, darling, enthusiastic children.

I can't get either of them out of my mind this week. Gizelle took a 6 by 8 card and pulled a pink marking pen out of her backpack.

I looked to see what she was doing. It was a love letter to both her parents letting them know how much she loves them.

On the bottom of the card she drew two hearts, one for mom and one for dad.

I told her what a nice idea that was. Then this sweet child informed me that her parents had broken up.

I looked at her and I could feel her heartache. This was her way of letting go of some of the emotion that she was feeling. How smart--she put it down on paper...took it home and gave it to her mother. That was also her way of letting me know what happened in her home. She just didn't blurt it out...that was her way of explaining it to me. Poor little girl!

Ashley on the other hand was staring at my face and then she asked how old am I. I laughingly informed her 1000 years old..

She stared and said she didn't believe me. Then she asked again and I told her 47. She, only 6 years old, told me that couldn't be true...her mother is 45 and has no wrinkles.

Then I told her I was much older and she asked why I had wrinkles and she started tracing her little hand up and down my check.

I said don't do that...it makes me feel self-conscious...and she asked what that meant. It means that I don't like the wrinkles but that happens when you get old.

Then....she gave me a big hug...and said she loves my wrinkles.

Before I left I was given a handbook to bring home. The girls asked me if a handbook was a book for hands.

I explained that it's just called a handbook because it's small and fits easily into hands.

They then asked if they could draw their hands in it so that I would keep it forever....and I really will.

I can't get these kids out of my thoughts.....so young and precious!

Time now to celebrate Jeff's birthday. We've gone thru a lot of them and everyone seems so important.

When Jeff and Donna first started going together, they both volunteered for many years at the Fairfax Hospital.

Later they became involved in Toastmasters for many years.

Now their chief interest appears in taking care of their pets 3 cats and 2 dogs.

It's a very lively house...and I'm sure they're thrilled with all the activity.

Keep up the good works, my grown up children.

Rosh Hashonah always starts with this!

Why I Don’t Read the Binding of Isaac on Rosh Hashanah

Posted using ShareThis

The Travelers

These are people that I treasure...my Paul and Barbara.

They're on vacation at Yellowstone National Park. However, they look like they need a bench break...lots of walking. They took this special vacation and right before our High Holidays...a very good time because this is the Holiday that celebrates the beginning of Creation...and my niece and nephew went to see this great happening... A Work In Progress...because the beauty of nature never fades...it endures through the years...and the great majesty of it all. I know they enjoyed themselves because they sent me tons of pictures. They truly know how to vacation. Me...I'm not much of a traveler..so I do it on the discovery channel...and I still appreciate the grandness of it all.

Cutting back before a hurricane!

There was a big racket outside my bedroom window and I peeked out to see just what was going on.

It was a 'happening' all right. The 'tree clipper people' were right outside my window and they were cutting down a very huge branch of a very large tree in my backyard.

Now this wasn't just any branch. It was part of the tree...but almost as big as the tree trunk itself...and should there be torrential rains and wildly gusting winds, this could find its way right through my window.

It was so interesting to watch. They worked very hard and not a movement was wasted. They were in complete control of the situation.

Then I remembered my camera sitting on top of my desk...so this is what I got through the window. The black bar is part of my window and I captured it.

We pay high maintenance here...but it's well worth it. We're protected! In the meantime, I've stocked up on everything so that I could live a month without leaving.

I've been through one hurricane and I've learned. It's the darkness I despise most of all. When it was pitch black, I'd sing ....
'hello darkness my old friend...I've come to be with you again.

Then I'd go into a troubled sleep...but the very next morning...the sun was brightly shining...and all was right with the world.

Kevin and Cheryl

Once a year our pool is visited by two

really nice people...who come from the

far north...Massachusetts. We look so forward to their visit because they're very interesting and funny people.

Kevin is a teacher and writes books and spends a great deal of time at the library.

Cheryl is such a pleasure...always laughing...what a sense of humor.

This is what makes our pool so exciting.

Our starter-up home but we stayed over 30 years!

This is where our young-married life began...and I loved our little home. I remember carrying Jeff who was 18 months old to his own room...and telling him that this is his very own.

Well, it appears Jeff had a different idea. He wanted his crib in our room, just like it was in our little apartment.

He screamed and screamed ...and then wanted to join us in bed.

Every day I carried him and said this is Jeffy's room...all yours. Your toys are here. We have our room--you have yours.

He still cried for a month. Then Dr. Spock said you just have to let him cry...and don't give in...and finally after 4 days we had peace in the house and the bed to ourselves.

That is, until he learned to crawl out of his crib and he would go to Allen's side to get in and he was never refused.There were many times that I ended up sleeping in the crib because I couldn't sleep 3 in a double bed. Triple beds were rare in those days and it never even entered our minds.

Anyway we had big retaining walls in our driveway and in the back to hold back the 2nd terrace. The street above us was being excavated...and every night after dinner, the 3 of us would go to gather big rocks. To this day the wall is still standing.....a labor of love

.Retirement came and everyone said maybe I could buy Allen an extra couple years down in florida. No more urging...I wanted my husband to live....so we moved....and here I am.

I'm truly glad we made the move...life is so much simpler here..

Ethel dancing down the streets in Orlando!

J

Julie Childs

Ruth Fagan and I went to see Julia and Julia at the stadium theatre in Boynton Beach...so dark you could almost break your neck. I stuck close to her, I'm so afraid of falling because I suffered lots of mishaps.

Meryl Streep did an excellent job playing her, even was able to capture her annoying voice...sounding a bit like Eleanor Roosevelt. Julie sounded like she had a mouthful of marbles.


..There was lots of chopping, cutting, slicing....grilling...steaming...boiling...and lots and lots of butter... a cardiologist's dream!


It was about 7 when we left the theatre...and you'd think our appetites would have been percolating for something deliciousoso....but no....we went to Boston Market which is just a step or two above McDonald's..

After watching all that gourmet cooking, one would think that we would go to a classier place...but I guess Ruth and I are just simple folk.

. A very sweet young man held the door open for us...and we thanked him for being such a nice young gentlemen.

We made our way to the line where all the food is visible and everything looked really appetizing.

Ruth and I both opted for the meatloaf which looked so good it could have been a filet mignon. ....and we were like kids looking through the glass counter of a candy shop for all the tubs of wonderful side dishes. Such a decision!!!


Anyway..now to pay our checks. Ruth gave me a coupon which took $1.00 off an already inexpensive meal.

Standing directly behind us was the boy who was such a gentlemen with his mom...and we saw she was ordering bundles of food like for a very large family.

We asked if she could use our extra coupon...and she was so delighted...it meant $5.00 off her bill.


Ruth and I gobbled our food hungrily and happy. Our bellies were full and so were our hearts!

We enjoyed our dinner...and also the fact that one good deed deserves another.

We were just ships that pass in the night...but we felt great!

..

Meet Maiia, financial advisor!

I received this letter when I came home from the pool today. We don't realize how grateful we are to be Americans until we read this from Maiia

My dear friends,
It is with the greatest pleasure that I am announcing thatyesterday at 11.30 am in Oakland Park, FL the biggest dream of my lifefinally came true. On this day together with 177
other people and their families from 44 different countries of the worldI FINALLY BECAME AN AMERICANCITIZEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE
CITIZEN OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THECOUNTRY OF UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES, FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM WHERE
YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO BE IF YOU WORK FOR IT. THE COUNTRYTHAT IS FAMOUS AROUND THE WORLD AS THE COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITY AND
FREEDOM!!!!!!!
For those of you who have not known me for a long time it isimportant to mention that it took me 10 years from the moment I got tothis country in June of 1999 to finally become one of you. It tookcountless applications and procedures and thousands of dollars topetition for my citizenship, nothing that I would ever wish upon anybodyto go through. But it was all worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyminute of it, every dollar, every tear at the immigration office, everyday of waiting for all these approvals to work, to travel, to breathefreely in this country, because there is no country like this one,anywhere!!!!! Of course, this is my opinion and you do not have toagree, but some people realize how lucky they are to be born here andthey will understand my plea. This country gave me everything and itkeeps giving me the opportunity to take care of my family in Russia whoare not as lucky as I am. But I am lucky and I would like to celebrateit and I would like you to celebrate with me!!!!!!!!!!
PS. I cannot stop crying for 2 days now, I am so happy.
I am proud to be an American and God Bless this country!


The enclosed summary, prices, quotes and/or statistics contained hereinhave been obtained from sources believed reliable but are notnecessarily complete and cannot be guaranteed, errors and omissionsaccepted.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLCMaiia HartFinancial AdvisorFinancial Planning Specialist350 E. Las Olas Blvd., Suite 1200Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301954-762-3064 direct line800-327-8323 ext. 3064954-762-3069 faxmaiia.hart@smithbarney.complease visit my websitehttp://fa.smithbarney.com/maiiahart/

I can't believe I did this!

This afternoon I was thinking about tennis...that is the sport I truly love..and used to play. Jeff did too..he was on the tennis team.

My thoughts were of playing tennis with my first boyfriend...we were 13 and this continued until we were 16.

He would wait for me on Saturday afternoons when we went to visit my Grandmother in Oakland, Pittsburgh.

We played on a big cement slab...we never had a net...we used the line separating the cement...and we only had wooden racquets.

His name was Harry Schwalb and he was kind of a special boy...he painted...and he would design clothes for skinny me then. He didn't think I was too thin...just that the world was too fat.

Harry was brilliant and went to Penn State at 16. He invited me to go to his college prom...but it was a very sad year for me...My Mom died!

Anyway...to bring up the present...I thought of him today and looked him up on the internet...and since he was the same age as me, I decided to give him a call.

He remembered....and he was astonished. With all his brilliance..he's written books...his work is in art galleries...he doesn't own a computer. He asked me should he buy a desktop or laptop.

I was amazed...he writes everything out in longhand.

Anyway...it was a good renewal...and I think he was very thrilled that I remembered his entire family...and the way it was!

Meet my friends the Siegels!

The guy at the left of this picture is my friend's son whom I have loved since before he was even born. His name is Gary and his beautiful wife is Sue...and with them are their sons Alex and Arthur.

I've always been very proud of Gary....he started out working in the advertising dept. of Leader Newspapers....now he is way up there ... and he's worked very hard to get there.

I saw this lovely family 2 years ago when I went to Virginia to visit my kids...and Gary and his family drove from Murraysville, Pa. to see me.

How I appreciated that. Sue is a nurse and she and Gary fell in love in New Kensington, Pa....and Gary and Sue married when he was being transferred to another state.

Gary is a great sports enthusiast...and almost before he could read, he grabbed the sports page of the newspaper. When he speaks, his voice is so enthusiastic that it makes me feel happy.

I knew nothing about autism until I saw them in Va. and I marvel how well they cope and know exactly how to deal with their very handsome older son. Since then I listen and read everything I can about this dreadful disease and hope that soon a cure will be found. He's very high functioning and extremely bright and please God, the scientists will find out what causes one out of every 150 children to be born with this.

Don't know what made me do it!

I was talking to my friend Virginia and she was telling me that she got in touch with some of her former schoolmates online...and how much she enjoyed their get-to-gethers and reminiscing.

Well, I can't do that because most of my peers are not on a computer. So I thought and thought who do I want to call. I finally picked a girl (woman) that I started school with and graduated with.

I went to my white pages on the computer and typed in New Kensington, Pa...and there was her number in front of my eyes.

I gave no thought about what we would talk about. She answered and I started the conversation with this is a voice from way out of your past.

This is Hilda Goldsmith....and she screamed...Hilda...how are you....and then we talked for an hour and a half.

We even recited poetry together that we had learned in 7th grade.

It was a wonderful visit....I think I made myself and her happy....and it was almost like the many years hadn't passed all that long ago.

We recalled our families...and how it all was...and that we did get a good education after all.

So...thanks Virginia.

I've Become Very Lazy!

WMy good friend Virginia has reminded me that it's time for a new blog and I have so many thoughts reverberating in my ancient brain that I really don't know what my fingers are going to write about.

So...here goes!

I take such delight every week hearing and seeing Jeff and Donna's dogs. Now they'll never say their dogs are naughty ... they'll say it's all their fault.

So last Sunday when we were speaking Jeff showed me on the webcam a little gadget that he put together and he taught Bandit 4 tricks with it...and I don't know who was prouder...the dog or its owners.

Their beagle dogs are hunters so they dig lots of ditches in the backyard and Jeff had to go to Home Depot to buy dirt...so Donna could fill up all the holes ...now they can mow the lawn without fear of falling.

Jeff and Donna try to let me into their lives by explaining how everything works.....and I am constantly amazed.

We went to the Kennedy Space Center when they were here....and I imagine in another hundred years, this will all seem primitive to the folks who go to the museum.

In a way going to the moon has taken some of the romance away from this Lunar...because now we know it's just barren rock. However, what they do with their 'findings' is very interesting.

I don't know what the people who use cell phones in their daily lives would do without this handy little gadget....but thanks to space we have it.

But anyway, I don't recall that I heard any new songs about the romance of the moon.....so will they write new songs about Mars...and not the chocolate one.

I just can't get over it!

I'm sitting on the cusp of a birthday that will put me in the middle 80's...and I can't bear it...or believe it.



Always living in the present, all my events seemed to be frozen in time. Not being able to imagine Jeff or Paul being men.



Not to be able to acknowledge that I've been living without Allen for 20 long lonely years. Actually truth be told, I've been sequesered in the Peter Pan Syndrome....never wanting to grow up.



My Mother used to sing a song to me...Toyland...toyland...dear little girl and boy land...once you pass the borders, you can ne're return again.



I listened and believed in those lyrics...they came from my Mother's lips.



Well, I found out that life moves on...it's a constantly learning process...and if we refuse to move...we become stagnant.



Now my kids don't want that to happen...so they get me all this high tech stuff...and my friend Virginia just won't let me sit on my laurels...she insists that I keep my blog up to date.



So...I'm doing what is expected of me.



However, I now know that in my heart of hearts...I'm an old lady.



Somebody who also doesn't want to grow old says that today for some reason...we're 10 years younger that our chronical age.



Can that be????? Anyway...financially last year wasn't a very good year for me and a lot of others.

Fannie Mae tricked me....so did General Motors. Again I believed! I followed my greed and instinct...and it got me naught.

So now...I know that nothing is a sure thing....and we just have to roll with the times.

Speaking of which....Jerry Herman wrote a song....The Best of Times Is Now...and I do believe he is right....in fact, I know so. So..this is my wish!


Cool Graphics

Paul and Barbara know how to live!

My niece and nephew really keep themselves in terrific physical condition...and I'm so very proud of them for this since they both have full-time jobs which allow them little time to squeeze in exercise. But they do because they just climbed all the stairs up to Asheville Mountain in the Smokies....North Carolina..and they enjoyed every step. They manage to try to use long holidays to see America and I think that's great. They even went to Thomas Wolfe's house ...You Can Never Go Home Again. Paul and Barbara sent me tons of pictures which I will put in my picasso gallery and I can virtually visit all the places there. There's lots to see in the good U.S.A.

My first library was in a storeroom! written 5 years ago

We had to be very quiet...not speak a single word...or we would have been kicked out!

There were no paperbacks back then...only bound books and they were very precious.

My first document that I personally owned and was responsible for, was my library card. It was sacred. Nothing should happen to it! And if a book was overdue, I felt mortified...like I'd created a crime...all for 2 cents. The librarian took her job very seriously and, if asked, would refer you to a special section.

Besides getting a book for myself, my Mother wanted me to bring her back a novel. I recall asking for Edna Ferber....she's the lady who wrote the book that the musical Showboat was all about.

My Mother was an avid reader and during dinner she would present a book review to us letting us know what it was all about. How interested our little family of 4 was in her presentation. So, not only did we digest the best cooking in the world...and we had entertainment with it.

That was my Mother....and I adored her so much!

Now I go to a big library on Hagen Ranch Road...and what a myriad of books from which to choose....more authors than ever before in history. And most of them are very good...but we can't read everything so we must be select.

Ruth, my friend and next door neighbor, usually brings me back something that is just to my liking...no violence....no C.I.A. stuff...just lots of emotions.

Having a good book to read is such a great feeling.

As Time Goes On!

Is this what they mean by senior living....a bit scary and depressing!
.
I've been so lucky...so far! I haven't had to use a crutch, walker or motor chair.

But that isn't too say that I don't feel like an accident waiting to happen...because as I look around me...I see aging......mainly forgetfulness. Do we lose brain cells every day when we reach a certain age. Is it because we're not stimulating ourselves enough....could it be that because we're not productive any longer...we just seem to fade.




However, it's affecting me mentally. It's really getting me down....seeing my friends using equipment to get around. When I go to our pool, there are three walkers lined up by the steps because the owners aren't able to take one step without help.

We have to crawl around in between to make our way to the stairs. And many times, I haven't been able to get down the stairs because ladies are sitting there...maybe they just wanted to get their feet wet. Many conversations are being held right in that spot.

I say...excuse me...excuse me.....and they move their tush's a little bit to let me by.

This is my social life too....but I'm here for ernest exercise which I need desperately. Maybe I'm labeled a 'loner' because I go and do my thing...I splish and I splash...and kick and squat.

As I'm doing all this...I hear various conversations taking place....where they dined last night....what hurts them today....is it going to rain....and then a little gossip about someone.

I'm not imune to gossip...so I head in that area to listen a little harder. Either it's something I've heard before....or something that's unbelievable.

What really bothers me is when I hear someone lost a child. That's not supposed to happen. That is a tragedy...unexplanable.

I love to hear someone child is expecting a baby. That is what life is really all about...procreation.

Anyway, I'm beholden to God for creating my ancestors through the thousands of years...because without them....I wouldn't be! Thank you, God!

Jeff conducting our Seder

They're cleaning up after the Seder

I

Harriet Waits Patiently!

Harriet my friend who doesn't want them to miss their plane.

Jeff has one more thing to teach me!

Jeff wanted to make sure I knew where he stored everything before he left.

He hopes I won't forget any of his skilled training. I hope that I don't forget either.

Jeff and Donna, both, tried so hard to make my life easier and more entertaining.

I love them so much.

We're at the airport!

Harriet arrived safely...and off the younger Gordon's go. They look happy!

Time to go home!

Donna's loading up Harriet's trunk. Jeff and Donna are going home. And as much as they looked forward to their cruise and afterwards their Delray Beach visit...they now are anxiously looking forward to homeward bound.

They will pick up their dogs from doggy hotel and be greeted with lots of doggy kisses...and they'll probably return the greetings.

They love their pets. They also have 3 cats awaiting them.

I loved having them...but all good things go home at eventide.

Arlene after our Seder

The Seder Table is cleared and Arlene is enjoying just relaxing and talking to everyone.

Arlene and Bob have 4 sons and I'm sure they remember many seders of yesteryears.

I'm delighted they were my guests because they're charming people and added a real bonus to the evenings.

See you in the pool, Arlene.

A real working vacation!

Jeff and Donna are together at my computer studying how to make my life easy with a new camera and technology to put the picture into my computer to put into my blog.

How patient they are with me....I'm an old woman and they go back and back again explaining in simple detail how to crop a picture to make it really spectacular for me.

They're leaving tomorrow and they want to be sure I know as much as I can possibly absorb without hurting my brain-power.

They're both still wiped out from last night's seder...and it was a beautiful ceremony .. and they both made it seem like it was no effort at all.

Donna's slaving while I'm playing!

Gee..it's Passover 09 and I can't believe it's a few years since Jeff and Donna do this....and with such excellence!

Passover 09

It's the middle of March and I just came from a Ladies Seder sponsored by Brandeis and conducted by Miriam Aaron, who is so capable.

I happened to be sitting next to Ronnie Weber who is very interesting.

On my other side was Donna who is Beverly Sills sister-in-law.

When Jeff and Donna visit I set up my table with a white or other nice tablecloth, good dishes, wine, and juice.

. Either one person can lead the seder, reciting each reading and making the blessings, or everyone can take turns.

The directions concerning which fruit to locate and the mix of the wines should be read aloud.

As each piece of fruit and each cup of wine is being considered and blessed, that object is held by the reader. After each blessing, the participants taste the fruit or sip the wine

A large platter is placed in front of the one conducting the Seder. This can be an ordinary platter .

Upon the plates are the following objects:

THREE MATZOS, placed in the three separate sections of a Matzoh Cover, designed by Donna... The following are placed on the table for the participants

ROASTED SHANKBONE . I use a chicken bone.

One or more dishes of SALT WATER, depending upon the number of participants.

A ROASTED EGG

BITTER HERBS, cut into small pieces or ground horseradish.


A WINE GOBLET in front of each place. A large goblet, filled with wine, at the center of the table. This is the CUP OF ELIJAH. Somehow Elijah disappoints me every year...my feelings are started to feel rejection.

CHAROSES, a mixture of nuts, apple and cinnamon, finely chopped and mixed with a little wine. I like this so much I could make a meal on just that.

If desired, for convenience, extra dishes of BITTER HERBS and CHAROSES can be placed on the table.

PARSLEY, LETTUCE, OR WATERCRESS cut into small pieces
A pillow or cushion is placed on the left arm of the chair

Passover reminds us of the Jewish people's journey from slavery to freedom, from despair to hope, from lack of insight into praise for the Divine - the same path as our own personal psychological and spiritual growth.

After the Seder is over, we all join in the singing of crazy songs.

This year I have updated and written my own plagues that exist in the here and now.

I particularly love this Holiday because it has deep meaning for Jeff who recalls his Grandparents special seders over the many years...and he tries very hard to emulate them.

Here are my plagues:
Autism

Stolen identity

Fraud

Ponzi schemes

Recession

Pedophiles

Dementia

Global Warming

Drugs
Terrorism