Half of a Century!

Can you believe it? I have been alive for half a century!
50 years old, think about it…..
that is over 18,000 days…… 438,000 hours……… 26,280,000 minutes……..
1,576,800,000 seconds……. OKAY, STOP…. Now I really feel old!

Looking back on it, I can’t believe that 50 years have passed. However, as you are working and raising your children, you get caught up on the hustle and bustle of it all. It is hard to stop and smell the roses; you are too busy with the day to day grind of things.

Recently, we did some training at the school board and we showed a movie clip to our Coordinators, who have a lot on their plates as well. The movie clip was called “The Mom Song” and while watching this again, I thought, this is life…… not only for moms, or parents, but for people in general, this shows us how busy we are and how easy it is to see time fly…. Enjoy……

No, honestly, I feel the same inside, I am just older on the outside. I can’t let 50 get me down!

Besides that, I am not too worried about getting old, when senility finally hits me, I won’t know it anyway! But, I like to think of it as not older, but better. Let’s just say that I have turned from a glass of red juice; to a glass of good red wine! Here’s to hoping for 50 healthy more, after all, this glass of good red wine, has to age to a glass of fine red wine!

My family surprised me with a party for my birthday.

Although, I thought something was up when I was awakened at 5:30 in the morning on Saturday, by the sounds of Gary, my husband, cleaning! I couldn't be mad at him, I am lucky to have a husband like him! I love you, Gary!

So, I just got up and joined in and even if I was wrong, at least the house would be clean! Early in the afternoon, we went to a movie and then did some shopping. Upon returning home, I had a bunch of family members and friends shouting “Surprise” and my little granddaughter, Rylee, running to me, shouting, “Mimi, come see the cake!” My boys had come right after we left and cooked a feast for everyone to enjoy! Did I raise them right, or not?

On Sunday, which was my real birthday, we went to Disney with Mitch, Amy and the girls. Although it was hot, we had a great time. And I have to give credit to Gary. When our children were young, he always said that he would not go to Disney until they were able to walk “all day” by themselves.

Well, having grandchildren certainly changed his outlook. He can push the stroller and carry the babies with the best of them, maybe a little more sore than most, but the bottom line is...... he can do it!

Ahh, it is so nice to be Mimi and Pop Pop!

American Idol Auditions

And here is the next American Idol.............

My brother's fiance', Nanci, wanted to live out one of her life long dreams and audition for American Idol. So, she signed up and they went down to the Amway Arena in the middle of the night to get in line and hopefully have a good spot!

WRONG.......

Our family has always loved American Idol and believe me after seeing what really happens, it makes you see it in a different light. We came to this conclusion, at lunch time, before she ever auditioned. I work across the street from the arena, so, they came over and had lunch with me. She was ready to call it quits! But, we told her that she had come this far, she needed to go all the way or she would always wonder, what if.......

I guess that I always thought that the three main judges saw everyone. Not true.... The only one that I saw was Ryan Seacrest and I guess that he just shoots out takes for the main show. But, what they do is divide you up into groups and the producers listen to you or if they like how you act, CRAZY, you may get in. They only let so many from each group in. So, by the time that Nanci got up to sing, the guy in front of her jumped in the air and did a split, did not even sing, but, he got in. She sang for about 4 seconds and was told thanks anyway. But, she felt like she had at least put out the effort. And if I had to choose for her to be turned away or be one of the "crazies" that were put through. I am glad to say she tried and didn't make the cut. At least she had my brother encouraging her all the way. Way to go Glen and Nanci. Nanci, let your heart keep singing!

Happy 4th of July!

I love my country and what it stands for. I love the idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I feel blessed to have grown up in a country with human rights, which is so much more than what many people around the world get. I cherish the right to speak my mind when I want, where I want, and on whatever subject I want it to be about. At the same time, I am glad that other people have the same rights, even when what they say may infuriate me. I am so grateful to have my privacy. I am thrilled to be able to experience and appreciate all the beauty and splendor that we have right here in the United States. I long for the time and money to travel and see many of these wonders.

I hope my children and grandchildren have the same pride for their country. I pray that they set their goals in life high and will follow their dreams. But, most of all, I hope that they realize how lucky they are to live here and raise their children with the same ethics as they were raised with.

We went to Lake David in Groveland to watch the fireworks and we got a kick out of watching our nephew, Justin (my brother, Glen's son) join in on all of the festivities.

That is........ Until the fireworks started!

He quickly retreated to the car to watch a movie on the DVD player which is once again a choice that we have with our freedom. We can drive what we want, where we want and with modern technologies, watch what we want! What a GREAT country we live in!

Who needs a fire hose when you have this.......

We enjoyed having Mason for the 4th of July weekend. Joanne was on call at the hospital and Mike worked at the fire station.


So, how it usually works is that Joanne drops him off on Saturday morning before work and then she picks him up afterwards. Only to return bright and early the next morning before returning to work. On Sunday, when Mike gets off of work, he comes to pick him up. Sometimes it is only an hour or two before daddy shows up. Mason doesn't seem to mind being passed around and Mimi and Pop Pop will take any time that we can get with him......


Today, (Saturday, the 4th) Joanne got off of work a little early and called to say that she was coming to pick him up. I told her that we would keep him so she could have a little "alone time" and we would bring him home before going to see the fireworks. On the way to take him home, I sat in the backseat with him. Let me tell you, his daddy must be teaching him how to put out fires, who needs a fire hose when you have him around.


Here he is in the car seat thinking about what he could do to start trouble........

Then the waterworks start.......

Watch out..........

And at last, he is so proud and eager to do it again. Oh my, what a big mouth you have!

Boating on the Butler Chain of Lakes

Because the 4th of July fell on Saturday this year, we had off on Friday for the holiday. So, Mitch, Gary and I decided to take the girls and go boating on the Butler Chain of Lakes in Windermere. It was our first time ever going to that chain of lakes. We will definitely go back!

Our day started with my little mishap of shoes. (see my previous post) When I stopped to buy a new pair of flip flops, I also bought a potty chair to take along on the boat. Rylee, our 2 year old granddaughter is potty training and I did not know what we would do when she anxiously yelled; "I gotta go potty!" However, I was really unsure IF she would even use that potty because she can be picky on what toilet she uses. Well, it was not an issue for her! The minute that she saw it, (luckily, at Gary's shop) she had to put it down in the parking lot and go pee pee!





From then on, it was all we could do to keep her off of it......... Any time we slowed down, she would want to take her life vest off and sit on the potty. It was nice to have it, but I created a MONSTER!

We toured the canals and lakes and enjoyed looking at all the beautiful homes on the Butler Chain. Here is Shaquille O'neal's house.


It must be hard to be so poor! I wish that I could have been a basketball player. I could get use to making 2 million or more a month. (At least that is what was reported as his salary when he divorced.)


The girls enjoyed the sun. Rylee is totally comfortable with having her life vest on and really likes the boat.

Haylee is getting better...... her life vest gives her problems and she likes to hide her face when you go fast. She just snuggles into your neck and chest and hangs on. But, when you slow down she will look all around and puts up with it!



I took a picnic lunch and to give the girls a break from their life vests, we sought out an empty or foreclosed home and tied up to their boat slip to get a little shade. Both Rylee and Haylee were glad to get the hot and bulky life vests off and we enjoyed a nice lunch.





Afterwards, we did a little more boating and then headed back to the boat ramp to take the boat out of the water. We want to make plans to come back and maybe this time we can bring Amy with us. It is hard for her to find the time as she is busy with college classes (to become a pharmacist) and photo shoots from her photography business. Check out her website at http://www.amyrobertsonphotography.com/. Her full time job is a crime lab analyst. No wonder, she doesn't have any time on her hands! So, while she is busy, we don't mind stepping in and having FUN with the little ones!

Okay, my mind is going!

Could it be....... early onset of Alzheimer's????? This morning we are getting ready to go boating with Mitch and the girls. Gary and I get dressed, get our flip flops on and out to car we go. He says that his flip flops are scratching his toe. So, we go back in. Meanwhile, while he goes to the closest to get another pair; I put on one of his flip flops to see what he is talking about.

And here is my excuse.......

The phone rings and it is Mitch. I talk to him for a couple of minutes and then out the door we go. First stop is at Publix to get something for lunch. Gary and I walk through Publix, pay, go to the car and when I get into the car............

I see this...............

Oh my God, Gary and I laughed so hard! No one was looking at me strange and my number one person, who is supposed to take care of me..... never even noticed!

So second stop is KMart.... I run in with my mixed pair of shoes and buy a cheap pair of matching flip flops to wear for the day. When we get to Gary's shop, Mitch and the girls are there and I got out to show him what I had done and to take a picture for my blog.

Ahh.... much better, now my family can walk beside me again.

And Rylee wanted a picture of her feet too. So, here are her adorable feet!

I don't mind her trying to follow in Mimi's footsteps. Let's just hope that her mind stays intact!

Long Lost Cousins

Tonight when I got home from work, the phone was ringing. I ran in to pick it up and this person said; "Is this Barbara?"

To make a long story short, it was my cousin, Alvie, from Jacksonville. It is funny how when we were growing up, we were super close. More like brother and sister during those times. He and his family even lived with us on a couple of occasions when we were young. I spent time during the summer at his house. But, then family feuds and stupidity got in between our families and before you know it; 35 years have come and gone.

We talked for awhile and I told him that I would have to call him back as Gary and I had purchased movie tickets and were running late. However, I am eagerly awaiting to hear all about his life and about his brothers.

My cousin Billy and I are the same age and Alvie is one year older. My other cousins, Joe and Johnny were older than us, so I didn't play so much with them, but remember being close to them as well and have nothing but fond memories. Actually, I exchanged letters with Johnny for quite awhile, before his death. During the early years, when our parents were still getting along, we had a lot of good times and made many family memories.

After the movie, I started pulling out all of my mother's pictures and looking back, so many years ago...........

So, thanks, Alvie, Billy and Joe for looking me up! I know that we are all "older" now, but, we need to get together and make up for all the lost time. I love you, all.