Super Thursday

Dear Blog Reading Community,

The past few days haven't been brought a lot to write about.  The weather has been sunny and a little more humid.  Jak and I are still working to keep the flea population under wraps.  (Thanks to Auntie Amy & Uncle Bubby for your help with the cause!)  Yesterday I accomplished little and felt pretty blah for it.  Today I have errands to run which at least feels somewhat productive.  You see when a Capricorn doesn't accomplish a certain amount of stuff in a day, we turn into Crapicorns.

I've had a bunch of emails from back home this week.  I love to hear from everyone and do my best to respond so please write anytime.

And finally I can't let today go by without sending birthday wishes to my little friend, Lady Kathryn.  From one super girl to another, I hope your birthday is fantastic!!

 
Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Pictures

Good Morning Peeps,

I had an email with results from the 5K and a link to the professional pictures taken during the race.  I was hoping maybe there was a shot or two of me just to prove to myself I really did it.  I had to laugh when I came across the following.  I feel like the Chariots of Fire theme song should accompany them.  I am also including some inspirational thoughts for this Tuesday morning.  The only thing tougher than Monday morning is Tuesday morning after a Monday holiday.  Hope everyone has a good week.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

P.S. 

Can You Quack Like a Duck?

Greetings to All the Long Weekenders,

I hadn't intended to write today but then something cracked me up and I decided to share.  I was doing a search on Google that started like this "Can you", that's all I typed and then Google offers the most popular searches that start with those words.  The third most popular search for can you is...quack like a duck.  Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I do decent duck impersonation.  I can also run like a duck.  Just ask my brother.  ("If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it might be a prairie dog, because I often get them confused with ducks."  -Stephen Colbert)

Today I went to the local Memorial Day services.  I always went back at home so it made sense to go in my new hometown.  It was nice.  The mayor's speech was a little too political for me.  I suppose politicians are always running for office but the speech didn't win my vote.  The Veterans that spoke were more spot on with how I feel the day should be marked.  The VFW Chaplain said something in his invocation that I could 100% agree with, Memorial Day is a time to not only honor those who lost their lives in combat but to also honor those who lost their lives post combat due to both mental and physical injuries sustained during active duty.  As a country we need to take better care of our Veterans.  As the other decorated Veteran that spoke said, we need to come up with a 21st century plan to provide care of our Veterans.  The system we have now is outdated.  Amen.

I've been Suzy Homemaker today.  I made a batch of pancakes this morning and froze the extras for future consumption (thanks Lois for the idea).  My kitchen currently looks like a dirty dishes bomb exploded in it so as soon as Suzy finishes this letter and gets off her butt, that will be next on the to do list.  The weather here is beautiful again.  After a cold, rainy weekend I think better weather was expected back in the home state today.  I hope this is true!

Happy Memorial Day.  Thank You Veterans.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

5K

Dear Proponents of My Blog,

Just a quick Sunday morning update to say I survived the 5k.  My time was in the range I was hoping for so it's all good.  

I met a nice woman while standing around waiting for the race to start.  She came over to me to point out another woman's t-shirt that said across the back "I run...Like a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter...but I run!"  I knew from her appreciation of the shirt, this woman was someone I could be friends with.  We ended up running the race at near the same pace and at the water break mid point she came by and gave me some words of encouragement.  My pace ended up being slightly faster than her and after the race was over she came up to me and thanked me for being her "rabbit".  Something about these type of races if you keep the same person in front of you it helps.  Glad I could be that for her.  And funny, we both had short hair, were wearing bright green shirts, dark shorts and had pink sneakers on.

And now for those who skip the writing on my blog  and go for the pictures (you know who you are!), here are a few pics taken at sunset last night from the dog beach.

Happy Sunday to all.
Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Finding Inspiration to Write

Dear Blog Followers,

The week has brought little to write about.  I haven't been too busy or uninterested in writing.  I just haven't been inspired to.  Today, the weather is beautiful here.  That in itself is worth writing about.  Sun and clouds.  80 degrees with low humidity.  After only being here 6 weeks, it feels a bit invading when the inlanders swarm to the shore on the weekend.  However, on a day like today, I don't begrudge them a day at the beach.  Even after having to sit in beach traffic when I was just trying to get home.

Back in the northeast the biggest nuisance I had to deal with around Jak was ticks.  Here it is fleas.  I have found a few on him and have been taking proactive measures to keep it that way.  This involves a lot of vacuuming.  A flea collar in the vacuum bag.  And multiple home remedies for a non-toxic approach as he already has had his once a month flea control applied.  Yesterday Jak had a refreshing Rosemary mist.  At the beginning of the week it was a mixture made from lemon peels.  He's still scratching occasionally but overall I am feeling hopeful.

I also made two trips to Home Depot looking for Diatomaceous Earth, a less toxic home treatment for fleas.  It said online that there was some in stock but I sure couldn't find it.  What it meant by in stock was on a shelf, in a box, 8 feet above my head.  However, if you are shopping at Home Deport and in need of an Our Lady of Guadeloupe candle, those were in stock and on a shelf at eye level.

Jak and I have been for a jog on this bodacious day.  Last ditch training effort for the 5K tomorrow.  Jak refused to come up with the $20 to register so he will be sitting this one out.  Also of note today my little friend Katie celebrated her 6th birthday with a pancakes & pajamas themed party.  I hope everything went well!

And last, but certainly not least, I would like to take a moment to remember those in our military who have served our country and paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  It can't be said enough, freedom is not free.  Blessings, thankfulness and love to those who have lost their lives in service of our country and also to their families who endure the loss.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Letters From Home

Greetings compeers,

One of these days, thesaurus.com and I are going to run out of different words to use in the salutation of my letters.

Today I write a letter to home about letters I get from home.  As I have mentioned in previous entries, I am an old fashioned letter writer.  Back around the time I graduated high school I had a job scooping ice cream and I made a friend there, May.  From that time on, even though we always lived in the same town, our main form of communication has been writing letters.

One year for my birthday, my gift was something in the mail on the 12th of every month for a year.  And it was nice to know at least once a month I would have a real handwritten piece of mail.  A few years ago I decided to return this gift to her on the 23rd of the month for a year and when the year was up we decided it would just be our tradition.  She writes to me on the 12th, I write to her on the 23rd.  Of course as noteworthy news arises there are more letters than just once a month.  And before I moved we did actually get together from time to time, our friendship doesn't solely revolve around the mail.

Since moving, the letters of course have continued and it is a treat to open my mailbox and find them.  On the 23rd of April, May celebrated her 80th birthday.  Although I wasn't there to celebrate with her, she got a letter and a birthday card on the 23rd.  I suppose we are unlikely friends given the age difference, but I have to say she has always been a friend and not a motherly or grandmotherly figure.  She has supported me through whatever life has thrown my way and I have returned that kindness whenever I could.

(Funny, while I was writing this I received a call from May to tell me about the latest news that couldn't wait to be written and mailed).

Things here are about the same.  The job search continues as does the frustration at the lack of response.  I believe I will find a job, it just takes patience and persistence.  Jak and I continue to walk on the beach in the evenings.  We've made some friends to walk with which has been nice.  Jak has been more comfortable this week after his late night dog food binges were discontinued.  He did seem hungrier than usual the first few days without them.


I'm sending positive thoughts to those dealing with the tornado devastation in Oklahoma today
.  As Mister Rogers' mom told him during times of disaster, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."  Good advice.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Stormy Sunday Morning

Dear Blog Perusers,

It has been storming here on and off since 3:30 this morning.  And I live with a dog that doesn't like thunder.  At 8:00 it was finally clear enough to take him out for his morning stroll.  Such is life in the land of humidity.

The other night my mom and I were talking about the Robert Frost poem "The Road Less Traveled" and it got me thinking about my life.  I didn't grow up like a lot of kids my age did.  My dad was 37 when I was born which was late in life to have kids back then.  This meant that my parents raised my brother and I like the generation before us.  We had responsibilities and were expected to uphold them.  We spent our summers in high school sitting on tractors, haying.  And when we sold the hay, we got to keep the money.  Of course I hated it at the time.  I wanted to be a lazy teenager and hang out with my friends, they had a swimming pool.  I had a farmer tan.

I didn't run with the popular crowd in high school and therefore I didn't party.  My dad one time offered for us to get drunk with him, if we thought it was so much fun and that along with knowing alcoholism runs in both sides of the family pretty much cured me from ever getting into drinking.  I passed on smoking too, well except maybe the occasional cigar, I don't like the smell of cigarettes so why smoke them.  Perhaps my practical nature at work.  When I was about 16 I had a crush on a boy who was a year older.  I finally got the nerve to tell him and his response was he wasn't interested in me because I was a "good girl".  I was a teenager, I was devastated and thus started a 20 year battle, in my head, of believing "good girl" = "not fun" or "uncool".  All because the popular kid brushed me off for being who I was.

Now at 36 with my life moving in a different direction, I am willing to own up to my good girl status.  I think in a lot of ways I have taken the road less traveled.  I didn't go off to college.  I stayed close to my family.  In my early 20's I found employment and maintained it in good standing for 13 years.  (From working in human resources I can tell you if someone stays in a job for more than a year nowadays, it's a big deal.)  Being a good girl doesn't mean I didn't have struggles.  It doesn't mean I didn't have to make tough choices.  And it doesn't mean I didn't make some bad decisions along the way.  It did mean I had to live with the toughest critic, the voice in my head telling me I wasn't cool.  Here's the thing.  The voice in my head was wrong, don't listen to everything that you think.  In a lot of cases I chose to go against the norm and not do the things others were doing and I've turned out just fine. 

Finally, I'm content with where I'm at in life.  When I was ready I moved a thousand miles away from family and friends and I am at peace with that decision.  I know how to have fun.  My definition of fun, not someone else's or as defined by society.  The risk of trying to belong or fit in with societal standards is potentially sacrificing who you are as a person.  I'm not willing to do that anymore.  I am daring greatly.  I am showing up and being seen.  And I am finally starting to believe that I am enough.  Just as I am. 

Next Sunday I signed up for a 5K, which I may or may not be fit enough to do.  I know I will finish that is all that matters to me.  Jak and I are about to go for a jog around the block, that's as close to training as I'm going to get at this point.  I hope everyone can get out and enjoy their Sunday too!

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

P.S.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

Helios

Greetings from the Land of Sunshine,

As I sit here typing this letter I am reminded of the not so good effects of sunshine.  A sunburn.  It's one of those things, I knew it was probably going to happen but I kept walking on the beach anyway.  Today I only hit a few yard sales and then I took my camera for a walk on the beach.  The people beach this time.  I enjoy our evenings walks on the dog beach, however taking pictures and being tethered to Jak doesn't work so well.  Along with achieving some pretty pink shoulders I took some decent shots, mostly of seashells.  I also made a new friend while I was walking and will include a few pictures that he willingly posed for.

My other noteworthy news of the week has to do with my dear friend Jak.  He's been making me a little nervous with his excessive panting, rumbling belly and increased deuce-age (my own word, thesaurus.com couldn't come up with anything better).  I was starting to wonder if I should find a vet to take him to here.  Is the Florida weather too much for him?  He was resisting getting in the car to go to the beach.  Does he not like the dog beach anymore?  And then I found the bag of dog food open and finally realized what my furry friend had been up to.  When I was out during the day or sleeping at night, he was sticking his head in the dog food bag and chowing down.  Big sigh of relief.  And the door is now closed to the utility room.  I also made a stop at WalMart today for a bin to put his food in.  Just to be safe.  Sure he looks all cute and innocent in this picture, but you might think different if you were cleaning up after him this week.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

P.S. Helios is the Greek sun god and the sun itself.

Making a Difference

Bon Jour Mes Amis,

Today I write not of current events but of this date 20 years ago.  On that day my cousin Debbie married her prince charming.  I admire Debbie for waiting to find the right person.  She did not settle and in 20+ years together anything I ever witnessed, Ed has always done right by her.

This past December, Debbie lost a two year battle cancer.  She gave it a good fight and underwent whatever treatment might help but in the end no treatment was enough.  About a week before she passed, my mom and I visited her at the hospital.  She was talking and clear and could still make decisions about her care.  She knew her days were limited and she talked about how much she would miss Ed.  My mom was great with her and told her that the love would still be there even when she physically wasn't there anymore.

At this point I told Debbie that she was an inspiration to me, waiting for the right guy, having a good marriage for close to 20 years and keeping it together after finding out they couldn't have kids.  I told her that at 35 I was starting to wonder if marriage and kids were in the cards for me.  There she was, staring death in the face, and she looked at me and said, "the right person is out there don't give up hope, you are a special person and deserve the best."  As I sit here writing this I have tears in my eyes, not in sadness but in gratitude for the kindness she extended to me when she was facing so much.  

I wrote the following to honor Debbie and had the privilege of sharing it at her funeral.  I include it here today as a tribute to someone who made a difference in my life.

In considering what I would like to say about Debbie, the first thing that came to mind was, she would not like this, the attention, someone speaking openly of admiration for her.  Accolades were not her style.

A few weeks ago my aunt was telling about Debbie’s thoughtfulness when she was going home after a hospital stay and arranged for Italian cookies to be given to the nurses and staff that had made her time there a little bit easier.  It was from this story I finally came to understand that Debbie was so matter of fact in her thoughtfulness that she could give you the shirt off her back and you wouldn’t even realize what she had done.  She always had a plan that was executed well and this kept the attention off of the thoughtful things she was actually doing.  Recognition was not her motivation.

Last Wednesday I visited Debbie.  She was resting quietly so I sat next to her and talked to her for a few minutes.  I used that time to thank her for being such a good older cousin to me.  When I was a teenager she did stuff with me.  Let me drive her car when I had my learner’s permit.  And the ultimate coolness for a 16 year old; I got to be in her wedding.  When my mom’s brother had kids and there was a similar age difference between them and me as there was between Debbie and me, I hoped I would be that cool older cousin for them.  I have had that opportunity and I am so thankful.  It has enriched my life and I am grateful that Debbie was such a good role model for me.

I would like to share a quote that I recently came across…

“I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone.”

Debbie is the bird with bright beautiful feathers.  The cancer was the cage that was keeping her locked up.  She is free now, and though sadness intrudes, our lives are a little brighter for knowing her.

After receiving the call that Debbie had passed on I walked out of work and when I turned on my car I heard this on the radio, “sleep in heavenly peace.”  So appropriate.  Rest in heavenly peace, Debbie.  Your work on earth is done.

My biggest take away from witnessing the path of Debbie's life is this, I think at the end of everyday and at the end of all our days we all just want to feel like our lives mattered.  If there is someone in your life that has made a difference, I encourage you to tell them.  Don't wait, do it now, do it often.  

Until next time...

Peace & Love,

Hope

Mamacita's Day

Dear Friends, Family and especially the Moms,

As I sit here typing this letter from my new kitchen table, I would like to take a moment to give a shout out to all the Moms reading this.  One day is not enough to honor all that you do everyday.  To my mom in New England and Moms all around the world, sending thanks, love and a big hug!

So, as I mentioned I have a new table.  This was one of my yard sale finds from the weekend.  The perfect size, good condition, came with two matching chairs and reasonably priced.  Yes please and thank you!

Yesterday was local day.  In the morning, Auntie Marion and I went to the Pancakes in the Park fundraiser to benefit the museum.  Then it was yard sales in the community.  Later in the day I headed over to cruise night where they shut down a whole street on the main drag and fill it with old cars.  Well, they aren't all old cars, which I tend to take issue with but it was fun just the same.  Car shows are a culture of their own and I enjoyed the atmosphere.  Some cars were leaving because it looked like rain and I could just tell the drivers wanted to light 'em up as they made their exit.  Too many people around for that but it would've been cool if they did.  The following is a collage of pictures I took.  If you click on the collage it will show you a larger version of it.

Not much else is cooking around here today.  Except for the humidity.  I don't mind it so much and was fine sitting in front of a fan.  My friend Jak is feeling it a bit more so I finally caved and put the A/C on for him.  I might mention that though I am being considerate of his comfort, he did not get me anything for Mother's Day.  Perhaps he thinks dog moms don't count. 

I hope all the people moms are having a good day.  Spending time with your kiddos...or at least talking to them on the phone.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

P.S.  My mom was concerned that I had left my halo behind when I moved.  No worries, I found it yesterday when I was unpacking stuff.  As Maya Angelou said, "Your crown has been bought and paid for.  Put it on your head and wear it."  Amen.

We Interupt This Job Search For...

Dear Friends, Family and Solar Eclipse Watchers in Australia,

Well, I don't actually think I have anyone reading this from Australia, there is a "ring of fire" solar eclipse occurring there today. 

On Monday of this week I had another "first" on this whole adventure.  My first visitors from back home!  My dad and Lois arrived Monday afternoon with a load of my stuff.  The trunk of a Lincoln Town Car is vast and I am appreciative that they extended their trip to the Carolinas a bit farther to deliver my stuff.

After unloading their car, Jak and I took them to our favorite hang out. The dog beach.  It was nice to have familiar faces here and for them to experience things that I have been sharing in these letters home.  The tide was high the day we went and the ocean had been rough.  This meant there were lots of shells for the treasure hunter in all of us.

Tuesday it was breakfast at Ruthy's, the local greasy spoon, with good food and reasonable prices.  And then I took my company to a little out of the way spot.  Which turned out to be a winner, winner chicken dinner of an adventure.  Something I haven't written about before in my letters is the wildlife here.  Some days when Jak and I are walking on the beach the dolphins swim along beside us.  I'm not great at judging distances but I'll guess they are 20-30 yards off shore.  And of course there are pelicans too.  The place I took my guests is known for the manatees.  It's a little cove next to a park and the manatees love to hang out there.  Thanks to Auntie Marion for showing me this spot last year.

The water was cloudy so it was hard to tell where in the water the manatees were but they were definitely there.  At one point two or three of them were rolling around, flipping their tails out of the water, just having a great time.  And there were dolphins there too.  Maybe two.  They were busy fishing and would occasionally jump out of the water while on the hunt.  It was almost like being at Sea World.

I will post a few pics with the disclaimer that manatees don't photograph all that well.  Even when the water is clear they sort of just look like swimming rocks.

 

Well, my guests are rolling north on 95.  That means my interruption is over.  The job search is back on.  Guess I should finish up this letter and get back to it.  Oh, and I better check out the Pennysaver.  Tomorrow is Friday...yard sale day.  And the weather looks good!

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

P.S.  I think Dad found something to do with the shells he picked up at the beach the other day...

P.P.S.  On Twitter they do Throwback Thursday (officially #throwbackthursday or #TBT) where people tweet old pictures.  So here is my throwback Thursday picture.  It was taken at the same park where we now go to the dog beach.  I think I was about nine when it was taken.

Some Days Are Diamonds

Greetings Mis Amigos,

When I was a senior in high school, just before graduation the school published a newsletter in which all graduates were supposed to put their destinations after high school.  Most kids put the name of the college they were headed to.  I didn't.  Here is what I wrote, "Where the grass is green and the sky is baby blue."  It is a line from a George Strait song.  As I sit here and write this where I can look out the window, I realize there was more truth in that destination than I could have realized.

To those of you who have written or spoke kind words about my blog, thank you.  If my journey and writings about it are an inspiration to others, I am humbled. 

I think an important part of leading by example and potentially inspiring others is to not only talk about the good days but to also acknowledge the struggles and not so good days that come along as well.  Last week was not a banner week for me.  It rained everyday, and for three in a row it was steady rain and there was no sun at all.  The job search has been slow go and somewhat frustrating.  There was a day at the dog beach where we only ran into two other people (not a popular place on a cloudy day) and the interactions, for various reasons, left me feeling kind of blah.  On another day Jak was being so stubborn.  He kept wanting to go in the opposite direction of me.  When this happens he goes as far as the leash will allow and then lies down and won't move.  Think truculent child.  On this week's prime yard sale days, the rain and wind forced them to be cancelled.  Pancakes in the park on Saturday was postponed too.  It was just that kind of week.

Some days are diamonds.  And some days aren't.  I do however believe that there is at least a diamond or two in everyday.  We just have to be willing to look for it.  Especially on the difficult days. 

In better news from the week, I was able to find a health insurance plan for much less than Cobra would've cost me and though they said it could take up to 3 weeks for me to be approved for the insurance (what I had was expiring in 2 days) I received a call saying it would go into effect May 1st as I had requested.  On an okay day at the dog beach another turtle (actually a gopher tortoise) crossed our path.  I consider that a good sign.  And yesterday the sun came out again.  Bet your bottom dollar.  Overall we are doing just fine here.  Jak is a great companion and was so happy to get back out to the beach yesterday after a day away. 

I saw this quote once that I tried to find and couldn't so I will end this letter by paraphrasing what it said...  Faith isn't believing things will turn out the way you want, it's believing things will turn out the way they should.  A good reminder, especially on the less than banner days.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Thought for Today

Dear Fellow Americans,

If potential employers contacted someone the way potential health insurance brokers do, the unemployment rate would be zero.

The job search continues.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Picking Up

Ahoy Mates,

Today I write of an age old tradition.  Something that appeals to the treasure hunter in the young and old.  Picking up seashells.  I abstained from partaking in this the first week I was here.  Mostly because I didn't see that many.  But as Jak and I settled into our trips to the beach and walked farther, I began to see more shells.  And then I began to pick them up.  Actually what I decided was I would pick one up for each day that we walked on the dog beach to be put in my glass jar yard sale find.  Here is the one I picked up yesterday:

A wise aunt told me that there would be times, like after a storm, when the shells would be more plentiful and I wouldn't be able to pick up just one.  I think she is probably right.

In defense of the one a day project, I started this after I had been here a week so there were a few trips to the beach that didn't get a shell.  Also the smallest shell in the picture is for another project that I'm working up to starting and won't be going in the jar.  And there is a one a day shell on my doorstep that needed some outside time before being added to the collection.  (Think stinky.)  Pending the outcome of the de-stinking process, it may or may not make it into the jar.

On Monday of this week I set out to take care of a bunch of errands.  One of which was to locate where some family friends live in the next town North of here.  In looking for their house I became the unexpected observer of a woman taking a fall in her garage.  After seeing that I did the only thing I could, I turned around and went back to see if she was okay.  The woman assured me that she did not need medical attention and only needed assistance getting back up.  I helped her get back on her feet and watched her walk around without issue.  I suggested that if anything changed she should seek further assistance and I went on my way.

The reason I shared this story is because, although in this case it was literal, I think it is a metaphor.  In life, it's not about how we fall down.  It's about how we pick up ourselves and move on.  And you never know who might be there to help you up.  Perhaps a perfect stranger.

Happy May Day!  Happy Birthday Tamie!
Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope