Patio-Day 4

They poured a really thick coat white stuff and inscribed
the lines to look like stone.



We chose a finish that will be applied later in a range of greys that will be applied to look like stone and not a jigsaw puzzle.

They still have the other side to do, the front walk, and the stoops. Whooppee!

Patio-Day 3

No work today. There was thunder this AM and they can't do what they need to do with rain.




They did drain the pool. The bad stains show up like someone pooped on it. Although, after it dried all day the stains faded out to a buff tan color and didn't look that bad. Add water.....bad.

Patio-Day 2

What a difference a day makes. The fountain in gone and you can see that the

little flower bed in filled. The white is the skim coat to fill in. The depressions where the river rock is filled in.












The white skim coat reflects the light into the house and really brightens it up.




This morning the knock on the door asking for permission to cut across our lawn to pull the debris out of the canal.
YES! They piled it up in the cul-de-sac.

This evening, another knock and the city architect said we had a hazardous stucture in front of our house. They also had left a pile blocking a lane down the street. We explained that it was the city of Coral Springs who did this and he said he would have to make a phone call to get this stuff picked up.





The front stoop and walkway is getting processed.











Here is the river rocks around the tree. Tonight we will put more of the rocks around the bushes.









Here is what our new tile will look like.

Patio-Day 1

We are improving our patio. The fountain is our water feature.
Today they FINALLY began to work on it.

Before..........
After.........
We decided this AM that the fountain was going.

Note that the river rocks around the pool have been removed. We used them to make a border next to the East side of the house and circle the tree in the front yard. We will also use them to border the little bushes in front.

The water is suddenly green. No swimming for a while.

Hurricane Preparation

The last two weeks have been tax-free on hurricane preparation items. Outside of food, water, and ice we feel pretty set. We are buying Steve's generator so that we won't be beholding to IB for a hook-up for our refridgerator. But we did make a really good find on a crank radio/tv/flashlight from of all places, Pep Boys. Expecting to have to pay $79, it was on sale for $49.

We've played with the features and are charging the nic-cad battery. The tv part does not run by crank. Neither does the 'beam', but the LCD light and the radio do.
I've named it. I've named all of our light sources. It sounds silly, but I know exactly which light it is with its name.


Starting with the smallest.
Flicker. Looks like little candles with the slight flickering light.











The next is called Cranky.
It is a little LED light that gets it power from cranking. It has two brightnesses

and is a Cracker Barrel purchase.









Our next model has a 'goose neck' that can be positioned up or down and can even be hooked over something to position it. It was from DARE purchase at school.

Its name is Goosey.












This bad boy is powerful. It has two settings and can cut clear across the
backyard. It's VERY heavy and can lose its charge quickly.

Its name.....Jim Beam.






And finally the newest member of the Hurrican preparedness family......Buzz.
It looks like a bumble bee or yellow jacket. Those are not positive images for me

since both could kill me, but Buzz or Buzzy works for me.










We have AA batteries to get yet and have already added another 5gal gas container. Steve said we should be Carbon-dioxide alarms. We have 3 days left.

I'm PSSSSTTTT!

I'm so angry I can't talk about it.
I'm running a book fair at our school now. It's chaos, but we do it to raise money to buy resources for the library.
Here is the crappy part. This or next week is teacher appreciation. My pricipal and AP want to 'honor' teachers by giving each person a $10 gift certificate to get books from the fair. They come off as Ladies Bountiful. I work the fair, they give it away. My name isn't even on the certificate. They contributed NOTHING!
AAaaaaggghhhhh! That's going to be $600 credited to my fair.
"It's for the school. It's for the children (said with the guilt giving lilt in the voice)
NOT FAIR!!
Aren't they just Wonderful Bosses. Gee....even I get a certificate. Big Whoop!

Click...Another change

We went to a play at Lynn last Friday. It was a collection of plays that force you to look at situations in different realities. Doppelgangers that are next to you living your life, then click, they switch places with you and you become the doppelganger. Change is part of life. It can’t be stopped no matter how much you try not to.

Click. How did I get to be the age of my parents? Click. My parents are really old, infirm, and unable to live on their own. Click. It’s time to sell the home they’ve lived in for 52 years.

That last click kept me awake this week. I’ve already taken items, but is there something I’ve forgotten that I wished I had? Logic tells me that I already have too many things, but this is final. No do overs. Click. It’s time to turn the wheel to the next position. Our ancestors faced this and now it’s my turn.

Click. Children, this is a click in your wheel of life too.

REALLY Big Babies

This last weekend we went to Disney World and Sea World. We had a great time, BUT I have complaint to lodge against these parks, especially Disney. There should be a law that you can't rent strollers out to parents whose children are over the age of 8. Giant children were being pushed about by their parents. The kids could barely get their feet on the footrest their thighs were so long. Even worse were the parents who rented a double-wide so that 2 of these overgrown babies could ride around.

Babies & toddlers who don't have the size and endurance are the intended riders, but I can hear Jay Leno say, "How lazy have we become when our fat-assed kids have to be pushed in strollers." Parents need to plan less and go back to the motel and rest up and come out again later.

I saw one wall of strollers behind me ready to clip my heels. It was a double wide next to a single next to a guy in a wheelchair. Stoller people are on a mission and you'd better not be in their way. At another spot I saw where the adults had given over the electric cart to the 2 young boys to play with. They were not using it responsibly and as you might expect it was a big toy for them.

The parks are SO expensive and have so much to do in them that people squeeze as much time as they can and that means they lug , tote, and wheel their too old kids around. Those parents looked done in to trying to push their big babies around. Kids, you need to WALK.

Living in the Present

I don't usually plan way-far ahead. It probably started that way because Blaine didn't like things planned. He would then feel obligated and fret about what ever function was coming up even if he would enjoy doing whatever it was. I now live in the present and what ever comes up in the short-range we can switch , pick and chose.

This week end it was an Arts Festival at The Walk. If money were no object, I'd have a lot of pretty things now. But it was not planned way far in advance even though we knew it was coming. It was 11:00 and 'hey, want to go to the festival?' OK. Yeah. Let's go. This works for two people, but when you try to work around other's schedules it can be disappointing. They may have planned way in advance to do something else.

I don't know what summer will bring. As long as I don't have to decide right now, I have unlimited possibilities. I live day-to-day working to survive all of the school craziness coming up. As soon as I commit to something for vacation, I'm stuck. Right now I don't know what I may want to do, but I THINK I can do anything thing. It's a false feeling because I like to do stuff with others and they have already planned something else. Oh, well, get over it Iris.

Upgrade

Signed-sealed-waiting for delivery. It's ours.

The patio/pool area is getting a make-over. We looked at the tax refund and decided this was the best time. Blaine talked to 4 different contractors getting estimates, and we decided tonight. The chattahoochee will be GONE! to be replaced with Euro Concete that will be colored the way we decide.

The river rock around the pool will be GONE! to be replaced with the finish to the edge of the pool.
The yellow tile around the top of the pool will be GONE! to be replaced with whatever tile we choose. We saw some pretty colbalt with hibiscus. The actual pool finish will be GONE! to be replaced with a finish called Gem Bright (same as Diamond Brite, but cheaper)

Work won't start for approx 4 weeks.

Exciting times at Coral Springs. We may become a SoFla hot spot.

http://www.professionalpoolpatio.com/

Ren Fest

We go to the Renaissance Festival every year. It's the perfect time of the year for it here in South Florida. The weather was beautiful.


It is interesting to see how the festival goers dress. They are not part of the cast, but love to dress in period costumes. But what period?



I spotted on woman who patterned herself on Xena,
Warrior Princess with a short black leather 'dress' complete
with a sheathed weapon on her back. I guess there is not much airport type security risks at the fair. She could have hacked up all to pieces.


Then there are the goth types. Anthing that is black and has a cape works for them. Again, I'm not sure of the authenticity of the black goth look in Renaissance times.


Girls go for the fairy look. With wings strapped on and glitter make up and Tinkerbell outfits , they travel in groups and totally get into their role.
They can be really scary sometimes.


My favorites are the cast members who are royalty. They look what I think royalty should look like. They are always in their role and carry their feuds from the jousting at the Field of Dreams to the Royal Chess match with people as the chess pieces.


When the parade comes through, it looks like a festival.


Since we've been here before, we don't have to try to see every show. We have our favorite places to go. We like the visit the birds of prey. The falconer has been coming year after year and sleeps in a teepee right next to all of his birds.


Lady Ettie is a character we look forward to. She dresses like the equivalent of a homeless person, but puts on the airs of the very rich.

Finally, the merchandise. Colorful trinkets to catch the eye. Who wouldn't want to wear the ribboned circle of flowers? or a pair of fairy wings? Of course outside of the fair you would never wear these items. There are unusual musical instruments being played by people who are hoping you either buy the instrument, the CD, or put tips into their coffer.

This year it was a wind wornament that twirled and created an optical illusion that caught my eye. I love wind catchers anyway. Lucky for me my birthday was only 4 days away.

This year we could see the extensive hurrican damage. So many of the trees had been knocked over and had been removed. It was naked looking and won't look normal for many years to come.

Our Adoption

We have a new member in our family. We cancelled our plans to attend the Ren Fest and went out today after hearing that this orphan needed a new home. The family conditions were appalling. Look at the photo. He was living in these squalid conditions since the end of October when Wilma came to town.

It was covered in a blue tarp to try to give it shelter as the owner had to live elsewhere. She handed us a dust mask to wear before we went in and she donned one herself. It was love at first sight. The previous owner only wanted
$10 for it, but it had to be moved out immediatly. DEAL! Blaine paid $100 to the previous owner, a little old lady who was very worried how it was going to get home since she lived on the 2nd story of condo complex.

The transportation home was arranged and we took ownership. Two professionals moved it down the 15 steps and to our home. At home it received a thorough mold-killing cleaning and it settled right in and looks to be a long-time member of the family. Gypsy hasn't paid much attention to it yet, but we can see where she should settle down on it quit nicely in the future. Meet BALDWIN.

Moving fees: $200. Total cost $300!. Priceless. He's tuning right now because he can't wait to play 'our' piano even though he's off the whole next week for Spring Break.

Mr. Jerry

My clerk is out of state finalizing the deal to build her new house in Georgia and will be gone till next Thurs. They got a sub for her. Probably not because I need the help, but because they just pinned 1-2 Kdgn classes on her while the Guidance lady is bubbling tests ready for FCAT in 2 weeks.

Mr. Jerry was the sub. He is a morning person. Very talky. He was chatting on and on with a para and didn't even hear the child keep saying "excuse me" I'm ready to check out. MRS. KAUFFMAN....WHERE ARE YOU? (I'm in my office) He subs a lot at our school, so you'd think he owns the place. I heard about how he just turned 75 (he doesn't look or act 75), how his kids are incredibly successful, rich, important, etc, and the biggest of all sins.....how different things are done 'at Quiet Waters'. "They have letters on the shelves at Quiet Waters that makes it so much easier". " They have a special place for all the Arthur books that is especially well designed." "I sub a lot at Quiet Waters, and I know how to.....(fill in the blank)
PLEESE! I had to explain that my library is not where I want it to be and that it's a work in progress.

Mr Jerry had troubles with the circulation. He would scan names and wouldn't wait for the name to come up, hit the F2 button again and scan the books. I don't think the books are checked out. While I had a class he would call over to me that he needed help.Oh well.
I also found out he shelved. He didn't know about the Easy Dewey....so they are probably wrong and said that he put things back in the Resource Room. I'm afraid.

Come Monday I'm to have a different sub as Mr Jerry has Quiet Waters for 2 days. (You know he subs there a lot and they love him) I think the new sub is Mr John? or Mr. Tom? Wonder what he already knows.

Gee Whiz......Thanks A LOT!

I'm cursed. Addicted. Tortured. The other day Big Penguin was complaining that he couldn't get a song out of his head and sent me a song by Black-eyed Peas called Pump It. VERY addictive tune. It has been stuck in my head for days. 'And say, oh oh oh oh' When I wake, working, etc. Then when I finally noticed the song is GONE, it pops right back. 'Shake it, shake it, shake it girl Make sure you don't break it girl'. The beat and rhythm pattern is imprinted on my brain.' 'This joint is fizzlin', It's sizzlin'.....STOP! Leave me ALONE. Exorcise this from me. I'm playing the 'Haircut' folder of soothing music to rid this insane looping song.
Penguin.....SHAME on YOU!!!
*******
While posting this rant, I somehow engaged the keyboard filter. Who knew there was such a thing? It means you have to hold each key down for about 5 seconds to type. I'm going crazy!!!
Finally found the cure in Accessibility Options/Keyboard/turn OFF filter keys.
A diversion from THE torture song.

Midnight City of Lights

Midnight in the house reveals a hidden city of nocturnal creatures. They are not alive, but lights that glow in the dark. The nightlights are a given, but there seems to be a whole biome of other lights. There are the double greens of the printer and the 2 seductive blue points of the external drive and firebox. The family room has a whole family of points of brightness with the DVD, VSH, and the external lights on the stereo. There is a glowing light from the receiver for the outdoor door camera. The microwave has its own glow from the digital clock. There is a seductive blue light from the studio. I don't know what it is. It's too dark to go in and find out, but it glows like a lighthouse beam making walking through the house at night safe. I think its blue lights are the sexiest. It seems like fireflies have invaded our home and have hidden among our things and are only revealed in the middle of the night. They are silent and steady in there concealment and when the dawn breaks, their light can't complete with the sun and they fade back into the background. Only if you deliberately look can you still see them beaming out their presence during the daytime.

Italian....

Last night was Italian. Real Italian. The extent of Italian for us is spaghetti, pizza, Italian bread, and Italian ice. We used my Christmas gift cards. Derek, the waiter, did his best to describe the items on the menu. Blaine chose Chicken Bryon. Or was that Byron. I had Chicken Parmasan. He had the mashed potatos. (not that Italian) and pasta fazool. I had the zucchini and ceasar salad.

Derek brought over the bread and a plate of herbs and garlic. He could tell we were Italian newbies. He mixed the herbs with olive oil and said people dip the bread in it and that it was delicious. Blaine immediately asked if they had butter. Derek brought butter too. After I mixed the oil and garlic herbs together, I spread it on the bread rather than 'dip'. It was tasty. Derek preferred to go to a nearby table and flirt with a girl eating tiramisu. No not eating, toying with. It got boxed up.
The food was delicious. We had a $ amount left on the cards for a future dessert.

We walked down the line to Dairy Queen for dessert this time. Someone strapped up a plaster cupid with red ribbons from a shelf to decorate for Valentine's Day. It looked like a cherub on a witch's broom. The red ribbon had been looped under the arms and around the wings. Very awkward. Then next door to the CVS for mints to counteract the breath as we were going to the Italian opera, Barber of Seville.

We got there early as it started at 8:00. OH MY! This must have been the social highlight for all people over the age of ....oh let's say 70. We were shameless. We stood on the balcony and played 'who has natural hair colors'. No one. The men....bald. Numerous canes, walkers, and they made a "dash" for the elevator. I wore what I wore to school, my jeans. I bet Blaine a dollar that no one else would be wearing jeans. EVENTUALLY he found 1 person. I had to pay. Then I bet him double that there wouldn't be another. I won my money back.

We had excellent seats. The mezzanine level has a perfect view. They had the translation projected above the stage. Good thing. It must have been first night because there were paper falling, the backdrop swinging from side to side when someone backstage must have bumped into it, and the singer backing up and almost tripping over.

There is never enough leg room and after being up since 5 am, I got sleepy by 10:00pm. We got home after 10:30pm. We had a great time. Wish you were here. And I had leftover food for lunch the next day.

Yahoo Animals

I think it's amazing that for this minute the Yahoo News Photos were all of animals, (except for one of a Miss America Pagent contestant in a swimsuit)
There's the 2 different colors eyed cat , the cyclops kitten , the mouse and snake as friends , a sticky fingered tarsier eyeing a cricket , and mating pandas.

The cyclops kitten photo can't be real. The caption states it lived one day. Kitten are not born with their eyes open.

That was Easy

When we were in NYC visiting NinJa, I bought an 'Easy' button at Staples. We don't have Staple in SoFla. Poke the button.....That was Easy.....and soon you are convincing yourself it really WAS easy. Load the dishwasher....that was easy. Pack the lunch...that was easy.

Now I need MORE Easy buttons. I need one at school in the Media Center. I need to recode all the Easy Dewey’s and paperbacks because inventory is coming and if they have the wrong label it's going to mess up the whole thing. I need that button. I'm 1/3 the way through the ED with the reclassification, but then it's a perfect time to weed those awful books from the 70's and 80's. Even found several in the 60's. When you weed then you have to discard. Pull of the barcodes, stamp them, then sneak them into the trash bins so teachers won't paw through them and wonder why I'm throwing away those ' perfectly good books'.

I'm weeding them because the kids won't check them out. They're very unattractive and seems like they must have ordered 5-6 copies of each one too. I'm getting new books in and there is no room on the ED shelves to put them because the shelves are packed.

I need the Easy button.

Self + Improvement

I read in Reader's Digest that 'Naturally Slim' people do movements that use calories here and there that will add up to pounds lost over a year's time.

One of these was to stand on one foot and balance while you brush your teeth every day. It might also be good for the brain.

I learned that it's not easy to lean over so that the toothpaste goes in the sink while you're balancing. And it doesn't work well in flip flops. I am getting better at it though.

Another skill I'm working on is whistling. If you don't practice, you can lose the ability to hit as many notes. Now everyday in the car on the way to work, I practice. I start with Happy Birthday, then the Marine's Hymn, then the Lonely Goatherd. Some days are easier. On the way home I'll try higher notes.

It's these little skills that gradually fade till one day you're surprised that you can't do them very well or even do them at all.

Rose Parade

The Rose Parade is on Monday this year, a day after New Year. I understand there is a tradition of never having the parade on Sunday, but I don't ever remember not having it on New Year's Day.

I enjoy the parade, but I'm going to be at work. Our school workday was abolished to make up for days lost to hurricane Wilma. I'm betting viewership will be WAY down because of it being a Monday parade.

I heard they are trying to update the format of the parade to entice more viewers. CBS cancelled the broadcasting because of waning interest. Most people will be at work so they won't know if the new format worked or not. Pity.