Ernesto

Today was an uneasy one. We had school as usual, but every one knew that Ernesto was coming and didn't know if we would have school tomorrow. Looking outside at the weather doesn't give a clue as to what is headed our way. The day looks picture perfect with blue skies and sunshine. By the end of the day the word was given that school is closed Tuesday and we were to unplug all computers, printers, and TVs and put trash bags over all computers. The Tanburg distant learning unit had to be hurricane readied and the tech person had to do an emergency 2 hour server back up.

When I finally left school every gas station on the way home had lines of cars wrapping around the block waiting to fill up. Last year Wilma did a number on us. We all remember the days after when there was nothing available anywhere. We know the drill now. Fill up the cars and all available gas containers. Stockpile food and water in case the water has to be boiled or there is no power. We are supposed to be able to survive 3 days without help after a hurricane. Medications have to be stockpiled to. Last year when there was no power for days, medications that had to be refridgerated were not available from the few pharmacies open because their power failed to keep it cold.

Again, we all know the drill. Charley, Jeanne, Francsis, Katrina, and Wilma have left us uneasy. It is not an adventure once you've actually been damaged in a hurricane. Unease and a nagging feeling that you haven't done everything you should to protect the house and the family. The constant noise the winds and trees make during the storm is a kind of torture too.

We know the drill, but preparing for disaster when it looks so beautiful is unreal. It's like boarding a plane in Florida in December with shorts on because it so hot and humid and getting off in New York in snow and freezing weather. You just can't believe it could be that cold or bad. Preparing for hurricanes is the same. I can understand why some folks might have put off preparations before, but we know the consequence now and we know the drill by heart.

Polly Pocket and Ronald

I think I may be part of a small group of adults who regularly orders McDonald's Happy Meals. I like the small portions, the option of apple wedges instead of fries, and the TOY. I really enjoy getting the toy. I have a closet of MIB (mint in bag) toys from when I spent 8 years in a row as a band parent and counted on these fast meals before chaperoning the football games.
I have entire sets of toys and I had to part with them.

It started with the toys that came out for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves ( or is it Dwarfs). I had every part but one, Prince Charming. I had my son broker a deal with the little sister of his friend for a trade. How pathetic is that!

Two weeks ago I got a cool Pirates' binocular and today......Polly Pockets Purse. While we ate I put the stickers on the 'purse' and her dress. This dress looks like something that was a disaster on Project Runway. It encases Polly and is a hard shell. She couldn't possible 'walk' in a dress like that but she stands with her arms awkwardly out at her sides, so I guess it doesn't matter.

Blaine is promoting that I give it to Mac-a-Do, but I'm betting she already has some and she has an extensive collection of Barbie dolls, clothes, and houses/castles that put Polly to shame. So........I guess I'll get to keep her myself.

Boo-Hoo Tea

We've been back in school for a week. During the first week parents are allowed past the drop-off gates and they can be seen walking their child to the cafeteria for breakfast or to their classroom. Our campus is rather spread out and it can be confusing for a new student. For those students who have been here in previous years it's not so hard.

Last Friday was our Boo-Hoo Tea.

This is a formal acknowledgement that it's time to let go and let the child come on campus by themselves and make it to the room solo. Boo-Hoo because parents are sad and may shed some tears and Boo-Hoo because it is a rite every kindergarten student has to face. They can do it on their own. Mommy is NOT going to come and take them home. Come Monday.....it's called Independence Day.

The staff who man the gates will not let parents through the gate. IF they need to come on campus they have to go around to the front of the campus and come in through the office. This year they have installed a new security feature where adults have their driver license swiped. This will check the database of people who should not be on campus because of divorce agreements or a noted child molesters. Their picture is taken and the reason they need to be on campus is punched into the machine.

Once school starts all of the gates are locked and no one can get on campus without going through the front office as the front entrance now sports gates and doors that only open outward for fire drills. We are very secure this year. I don't know if there has been a problem, but I'm sure it cost a LOT of money and not every school seems to have it yet.

Independence Day is tomorrow and I'm pretty sure those on gate duty will have to turn away some determined parents. I'm glad that is not my AM duty. I just have to get ready for the closed-circuit morning news program and be available to help teachers in the library. No tears for me!

Worst URLs

These are real web-sites but someone didn't check out the urls.


The top 10 unintentionally worst company URLs
Attn: EntrepeneursEveryone knows that if you are going to operate a business in today’s world you need a domain name. It is advisable to look at the domain name selected as other see it and not just as you think it looks. Failure to do this may result in situations such as the following (legitimate) companies who deal in everyday humdrum products and services but clearly didn’t give their domain names enough consideration:

1. A site called ‘Who Represents‘ where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name… wait for it… iswww.whorepresents.com

2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views atwww.expertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island atwww.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder atwww.therapistfinder.com

5. Then of course, there’s the Italian Power Generator company…www.powergenitalia.com

6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South
Wales:www.molestationnursery.com

7. If you’re looking for computer software, there’s alwayswww.ipanywhere.com

8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website iswww.cummingfirst.com

9. Then, of course, there’s these brainless art designers, and their whacky website:www.speedofart.com

10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website atwww.gotahoe.com

Trip Day 12

Savannah! Sister of Charleston.
This is a view of the the former cotton warehouses that was
Savannah's commerce.

Savannah is different from Charleston in that Olgethorpe who founded the city platted the city out with a grid of squares or commons. These are tree lined oases of shade in a city whose temperature was up in the mid 90's yesterday.

We took the hop on/ hop off trolley tour with the driver giving history and corny jokes.

We got off at the River front and later rode the whole tour circuit again just to be able to sit.

This is a picture of the roadway down by the river front. The old ships used these rocks as ballast and would dump them out when they loaded up with cotton. Savannah made roads and walls with them. They are dangerous for me to try to walk across as they are terribly uneven .


One of our trolleys decorated for July 4th. The driver had a stars and stipe shirt too. We came back to our motel after 5 and thought it pure heaven just to shower the sweat off. After we ate, we watched the Savannah fireworks in bed on TV. Sweet!

I was promised a leisurely start today, but he set the alarm and wasn't around to turn it off. He is all ready to pack the car and I'm barely awake and so not dressed. Grrrrrrrr!

I will use NON-VIOLENT means to get going today. Grrrrrrr!

Trip Day 11

This is the scene from Careyville, TN. This is the llama place. We drove straight from here to Gatlinburg to the Christmas Place.













There must be an important election coming up because every intersection and roadside byway was covered in political signs. By reading the signs I could tell who was the incumbant and who was running opposite. The TV had commercials too. Bob Corkers MOM was saying how honest her boy was.

We drove to Gatlinburg and didn't stay but long enough for me to get my Christmas Place 'fix'. I had a gift certificate and I spent more. The only pictures I have are of the flowers.

Trip Day 11 continued

I love bright colored flowers. I miss being able to grow the northern flowers and trees in South Florida. Blaine doesn't know a lily from a black-eyed-susan.










This tree had fruit on it. I think it's too early for crab apples. It may be a Hawthorn? I picked some and brought some with me. It's in the bag with the cat nip I picked for Gypsy. Again, more things that don't grow in SoFla.















I had to get a picture of the Savannah bathroom in the motel. I've never seen an under sink arrangement like this in a motel.This seems to be a new one.

Tomorrow we will explore Savannah and hope the fireworks are on the 4th. We've had previous vacations when they set fireworks off days before the 4th for convenience.

Penguin, we should be to your place.......let's see, today is Monday......Wednesday.

Trip Day 5 through 10 continued.

This is at the library. Their theme for the summer program is
explore. They seem to have a very good program and I took
a lot of pictures for ideas. I don't have the wall space, but I still like the ideas.

Our school's theme next fall is 'World of Discovery' and that can include these pirates here.







Today we visited Steve and ThiThi. Their house and grounds are beautiful. Steve has stocked his pond with fish that he feeds dog food everyday. The bass and blue gill gobble it up. It will be very easy for him to capture them when they are big enough to eat.

They have some little fruit trees planted. Little being the main theme and the pine trees are so cute.

We drove forever into Tennessee and are staying at the Hampton with the lake and llamas. Tomorrow on to Gaitlinburg and the Christmas store. Besty gave me a gift certificate at that store. :-)

Tomorrow over the mountains and whatever spot we can easily find on the way home.

Trip Day 5-10

We met up with Steve and Rhonda & kids in Cedar Point. Trans Air
lost his luggage and EVENTUALLY they delivered it to the Breakers. They were staying at the campground.

Uncle Sam was on display at one camper's spot. At night it had red, white, and blue lights all around the canopy.

Highlights: CJ is a adult and can ride all the rides and pay the adult price.
Cotton candy is only 25 cents!!! This is from the same place that will chare $5 for a hot dog and fries.
Rhonda found a huge diamond ring in the bathroom.
I won mini golf!
The flume ride is gone and their already building next year's huge new ride.








We got to Huntington just as Steve B was closing on the house. The new owners let us tour the empty house as long as we wanted. You can really see the flaws and they will have to invest a lot to make it livable.

I've never seen the garage nor the basement so clean and bare. I took tons of pictures.

We stayed at an AmeriHost located where the Bingham farm used to be.

Dad looked chipper and played Uno with us. Mac-A-Do helped
him play his cards.

We also visited Mom. She's agreeable, but 'leaves' us while we're talking to here. I can't understand what she says, but she seems glad to see us.

Blaine played the piano at both places and Mac danced and danced.













Our hair is the same color! We're both BLONDS.

This is the backside of the Chinese horses.
They are very modest and have a heart decoration covering the back. I stood out in the rain to get this shot, hence the water drop on the bottom right of the picture.


Corbin had gas for $2.56 AND they had some. Once we hit Ohio I don't think we'll find any good deals on gas.


Tonight at Dry Ridge, KY and on to Cedar Point tomorrow. We know the Cincinnati area will have major traffic, but at least we're not staying in a factory area tonight.

Trip Day 4

We had lunch at this really old McDonald's. They had a lot of memorabilia from the past. Speedy was the mascot burger not Ronald.
P.F.Chang had some cool statues of Chinese horses.















We stopped at Cumberland Falls near Corbin, KY in the Daniel Boone National Forest. It's supposed to be the biggest falls East of the Mississippi and South of Niagara. They also experience the rare 'Moonbow' that may happen when the full moon is out and the air is dry and there is just the right amount of wind (or not) and you stand in just the right spot.

Everything around there is 'Moonbow' something.

Gas

I have to use Picasa to publish my pictures as
they won't load any other way. I'll have to
practice another time to get it better. :-)

Trip Day 1-3

We left home headed for Penguin's apt to help him move into his new condo. He's a homeowner now and brother Steve came on Sat and with 2 vans and a Rav among us, we hauled a lot of heavy stuff. His entertainment center and the heaviest TV on earth went down 17 steps and up 18 steps at the new place. My knees had a workout.

Today we left for the northern realms. Checking the weather via cell phone internet we think Gypsy may be having a time of it. Blaine has never seen arrows like that on a weather map and she may be experiencing a tornado. She doesn't like loud noises either.

Gas prices were $2.87 in Coral Springs. In Kissimmee it was down to $2.72. What a difference 200 miles made. Take a look at the prices on this sign in Georgia. We were unable to get the lower priced gas. All of the pump handles had plastic bags taped on them. They probably sold out. We had to get the EXPENSIVE $2.61 gas. Still a bargain for us.

Traffic around Atlanta was fierce for late Sunday. It took an hour to get through. We stopped at Rome/Carterville. We had been here on a previous trip with NinJa and Penguin. This is the place with the ant hill on the slope where Penguin was bitten or known as the place NinJa and Blaine posed as the two drunken sots on the bench. Trees have grown so tall that the bench has been turned around or you'd just be looking at tree trunks. The anthill slope/cliff is covered in tall pine trees too.

Got to develop a trip butt to handle long days of sitting.

Heelies

I went to Sam's club today to buy detergent and there were 2 boys with heelies. I don't like being in stores with children skating about. They look like skateboarders without the board. I never see them take a normal walking step but that they begin skating. All the time. What was their mother thinking? Seems like they should be banned from 'heeling' inside commercial buildings. They ban skateboards, bicycles, and probably regular skates as well.

I'll bet I sound older than the hills, but I get tired of trying to watch which direction they are coming and making sure I'm not in their path. Accidents could happen to my feet.

Patio-Day 15 Blue

The pool guy came and added
more chemicals and every day
the water keeps getting bluer
and bluer.

Blaine swam last night. It
MIGHT be a tad cold for me, but
when we had to take cold showers
when Wilma was here we coped and
this is directly from the same
source.

The day is beautiful and now it's my
turn to try it out. Come and join me.

Patio-Day 12 filled

Well the pool is full, but who would have
guessed that the water of Coral Springs is
so green.

It took about 18 hours to fill and then we
start the filter. It's the weekend and our
pool people won't come till Tuesday, so
Ken will be over to add chemical while we
are gone.

Patio-Day 11

Oooh wheee baby. The pool is finished. It is filling up right now, but I don't know how long it will take to fill the whole pool.

Someone will need to put in the overflow pipe and I hope there is not so much debris in the pool pipes that it will be able to filter.

Oh well, but doesn't it look GREAT!!!

Patio-Day 10

Nothing. Nada happened today. Blaine moved some of the patio furniture back in. The yucky plans are history. They are not allowed back in.

Kevin came by to check it out and get another installment on the bill. He didn't know for sure when the pool guys would come. Maybe Friday....maybe Saturday. I said if not Friday they had to wait till Monday as we were going to be out of town. He said once they're done the pool must be filled immediately and continuously. I guess it leaves a line in the finish if the process is stopped. Kevin wondered if a neighbor could come and turn off the water if it was a Saturday. NO! Never IB. Don't touch my stuff and it's not fair to expect neighbors to hang around on week-ends either. Dick & Jane often go to St. Cloud. Nope. They're going to have to wait till Monday.

Patio-Day 9

The ladies have finished. They finished the patio including the immediate edge around the pool and the front stoop and walkway. It's got to feel a lot better on bare feet than that crumbling Chattahoochee.













This is the remains of the rock pile. We have hauled river rock from this pile and edged everything around the property. There are still good rocks in there, but most of that is sand and cement shards.








The rock line edges the entire ficus hedge. I don't know if you can really notice, but they also surfaced the slabs just outside the screen doors to match the patio.








This is the street view.

More canal drama. Another couple were back there today measuring off the property line trying to establish where our lot line was and the water management easement started. Right now is 'Phase One' where they remove damaged trees from Wilma. We qualify. Those stumps don't have much soil under them. If we can fend them off till "Phase Two' they will remove the whole line of stumpy ficus, bring in dirt to build it back up and put down sod. Great! They we can worry what kind of privacy vegetation to put down.

I pointed out the the last crew broke our sprinkler line. She said we were supposed to have gotten a letter explaining what would happen and to remove sprinkler draws before that began work. She took down my information and would see about having it repaired. Yeah! But I won't hold my breath on that promise.

Betty said a black crew will come and do the pool and immediately start to fill it. I can't wait to see the totally finished job and begin to move all of the stuff out of the garage and S&R bedroom back to the patio and get my van back into the garage.

Patio-Day 8

Spanish. Spanish all day long. The ladies talk and converse all day long. It's exhausting. I have to admit I hid with the verticals drawn.

They got more tiles completed. Jorge came in installed the bull-nosed tiles on the edge of the pool steps.I really think that will look nice.










Kevin sad he thinks they'll be done with EVERYTHING tomorrow. The rest of the pool tiles, the edging, the front walk and stoop and the coating for the pool


I can't believe it.