tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9719177176374663672024-02-06T21:06:47.717-05:00There's A Cricket In The CornerThe World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~ St. AugustineAn 8th generation Floridianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09711873401968574512noreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-24661106415086941012016-10-01T19:50:00.002-04:002016-10-01T20:10:09.559-04:00Purposeful Treefrog Murder<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Today I murdered this cute and innocent 3-inch long Cuban treefrog that I found hiding beneath my front porch wreath. They are an invasive species to Florida and they eat voraciously. Besides spiders and bugs and little snakes, they have nearly eliminated the five local species of native treefrogs and also the ever shrinking green anole lizard population. The Cuban anole is also killing off the green anole, but that is a different story altogether.</span></div>
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<i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hiding beneath the wreath. "If I stay real still, nobody will notice me!"</span></i></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I caught this slimey fella in a ziploc baggie, verified its species, and by the way, it was a boy - he had black gripper callouses on his thumbs to hang onto his mate. Next I anesthetized him, then froze him, and finally dumped him into the swirling vortex of death. The instructions to humanely kill a treefrog are to put an inch line of 20% benzocaine (orajel) down its back and they go into a coma in 20 numbing seconds, then freeze for a couple of days before burying at least a foot underground and still in baggie. But we don't have benzocaine, so I instead poured a thimbleful of very old 80 proof scotch whiskey into the baggie, aiming for his back, and this was probably a more entertaining 15 seconds than the numbing gel would have been for this frog. FYI, frogs don't drink, they absorb liquids into their back skin. It was disturbing to me to put him (in baggie) into the freezer, but I did for several hours. I just couldn't deal with the thought of having a frog in my freezer so the toilet came to mind. He felt frozen/hard and I am pretty sure he was dead when I flushed him, but it is my guess that if he wasn't, he has since drowned or died from alcohol poisoning. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Not happy in a baggie, before getting scotch whiskey.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Killing a frog wasn't as awful as I expected and I do not feel bad about it now. I won't murder just any frog, just invasive Cuban treefrogs. My sister </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1264667431&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/patty.wise?hc_location=ufi" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">P</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">atty</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> and I were in a gift shop this past Tuesday and I spied a small native green treefrog hopping around on the floor, so I caught him, rinsed carpet fuzz and dust off of him and put him outside in the bushes to eat bugs and make some music. Why scotch? My sisters and I emptied my father's liquor cabinet several years ago and this was the bottle I was given. Dad quit drinking 38 years ago, so I'd say that's some aged scotch and maybe more than 80 proof now. I am glad I used alcohol instead of benzocaine, as you are supposed to hold the frog in your hand and rub the ointment into his back skin. Holding frogs doesn't bother me, but lately I react very strongly to plant, bug and probably frog juices too, so I'd surely have had a reaction. Even ice gives me hives!</span></div>
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Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-39955807070270094892015-07-05T08:22:00.000-04:002015-07-05T08:22:39.218-04:00It's Shower Time!So. The cultured marble shower was installed and is a foot narrower than the monster tub that it replaced. After an unsuccessful search all over Jacksonville for matching floor/wall/fancy trim tile, we had to choose a different tile altogether. Mark removed the floor tile and walked away. We chose not to go halfway up the wall as it was tiled before. My sweet husband is not big on construction and replacing wallboard, muffing and sanding is definitely not his forte, in fact, he stinks at it! We hired our friend Matt to do his magic and he's been sawing, hammering, sanding. Hopefully he will have the bulk of it done by 6 tonight, the time I need to drive him back to Orlando. The new wallboard is up and taped and sanded. I think a few more mud layers will make it smooth. Once that's done, he will lay the tile today and probably leave the grout for Mark, something he CAN do. Looking forward to having the glass door installed and then finally, a toilet! Our house is small, but going to the other side to use the bathroom and shower has been a pain in the neck.Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-32965285136215873552014-10-15T02:06:00.000-04:002016-10-01T19:52:43.173-04:00I Run Daddy's Car Lot.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georges Auto Sales</td></tr>
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This is where I have been spending my days since my father had back surgery in late August. Dad is 84, heavy, and very out of shape as he has had back pain for several years. Recovery has been much more lengthy than we expected. After a week in the hospital, dad went to a step down recovery hospital for a couple of weeks, and finally he was moved to a nursing home that has a physical therapy wing. He is ready to go home, but he isn't physically ready, still pretty shaky walking with a walker and prefers to lay in bed.<br />
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I sold two vans and either two or three cars...I can't remember. I have also been to auction where I won and purchased two vans and an SUV at great prices. My nephew George details and washes the cars.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impalas Galore</td></tr>
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My father likes to buy used police cars, so we have a ton of Chevy Impalas and Ford Crown Victorias, with a small few other cars...a BMW, Cadillac, Taurus and a Buick. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More cars in the back. There are two more rows in addition to this one.</td></tr>
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I think there are 65 vehicles total with ten of them at different locations for paint, repair, etc.<br />
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My job is to make sure the lot runs smoothly. I greet customers, quote prices, ask for the sale, prepare sales paperwork with fees for taxes and tag and title, close, collect money, print a temporary tag, go to the bank, go downtown for the title work and tag, fill out paperwork for accountant, remove the vehicle file and place copies of sales papers, fill in ledger for auto sold, and a few more things related to paperwork. The phone rings a lot with "How much is that white Impala?" type questions. I am pretty familiar with the locations, prices, mileage, and year of each vehicle. There is a running list of repairs my mechanics need to do, Nephew/lot worker/nephew George does smaller repairs like changing batteries, replacing parts in the interior, and the hard job of detailing really awful looking cop cars to make them look amazing. I pay the bills, order parts, coordinate repairmen, lock up. I am also very aware of the environment. The car lot is in an area of town that has become pretty dangerous, so I am always looking around, locking the door to the office and being generally on guard when Mark isn't there. He has done some mechanic work, changing alternators and belts, stuff like that.<br />
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After work I might go see mom or go to the nursing home to visit dad, who claims he's in bedroom jail. He goes to a dining room for his meals and has made friends with several gentlemen. Mom, Kathie and I visit almost every day. I live only a mile and a half away, so I bring home dad's dirty clothes, wash and return the same evening. Last night, Mark and I showed up pretty late after a cookout at a friends house with a slice of red velvet cake. It was almost 10PM. Yum yum he said.<br />
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Our middle sister, Patty had a double mastectomy for breast cancer in February, followed by chemotherapy. That's all behind her, but she has had problems battling some pretty severe infections and has spent over 40 days in hospital with these. Cancer is tough stuff, even after it's gone. She has an adorable new crop of hair, not quite an inch long and her once long and thick eyelashes are pretty short and thin, but like her hair, they will be back.Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-4149301486414813012014-09-19T19:20:00.004-04:002016-10-01T19:53:38.574-04:00CLOTHES! I bought clothes!!I don't shop. Ever. I pick up an item here and there, mostly at Costco. Shopping for clothes has never been an enjoyable task for me. Shopping with my sister Kat was fabulous, wonderful, and very productive. What fun to have someone else bring things to the changing room. Some things, I would have never considered, but trying them on, I was very pleased! We tried to get each shirt to go with 3 pairs of pants. These shown are the new clothes. There are black, butterscotch, tan and turquoise slacks and 14 shirts (the orange jacket, shirt and scarf are attached together). I also have somewhat new dk blue jeans and white slacks in the closet, plus I have other shirts, jewelry and scarves that will go nicely (like the turquoise one). I am not listing photos in favorite order. I can't decide which I like most! I forgot to match some of the shirts with the turquoise slacks as I am wearing them now!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvxD67NddMcSkgCJR4lCk4OGtdILOEx7VjEBCe13IAYUT422rakgYOAYjRcraL9HhIItzYLHGXCNPNzoQ7Loz7pjaqc8Cl2YFQ7UUdco9wx5IsGCrm9Yb-VrKK9P6QpKqlWBRF1V6tTA/s1600/382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvxD67NddMcSkgCJR4lCk4OGtdILOEx7VjEBCe13IAYUT422rakgYOAYjRcraL9HhIItzYLHGXCNPNzoQ7Loz7pjaqc8Cl2YFQ7UUdco9wx5IsGCrm9Yb-VrKK9P6QpKqlWBRF1V6tTA/s1600/382.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jeans with new pink shirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-50194519639612524942014-09-06T09:06:00.002-04:002014-09-06T09:06:49.982-04:00JulietAs Rin-Tin-Tin, high on a rock in NC.<br />
I stuck her up there, above my head, took off her leash and said 'stay". I think she was too scared to move! I didn't realize she was standing so pretty until I saw the photo.<br />
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<br />Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-54959283982784257312014-08-04T19:41:00.001-04:002014-08-04T20:20:03.025-04:00Back YardsMy husband and I have never had backyard neighbors. Until now.<br />
<br />
Growing up in Clearwater, Florida, my husband had a pasture behind his house. I don't think a cow ever set foot on it, but there it was, complete with barn, the perfect hideaway for sly adolescent boys to sneak off and try out cigars and chewing tobacco, then throw up behind the building. I am glad Mark had a negative experience; it saved him from a lifetime of smoking.<br />
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In my Jacksonville, Florida childhood home, there was a house behind ours, but it wasn't visible with thick foliage from our orange trees, and then a tall hedge of Japanese Ewe on their side. Hiding inside was a plethora of paper wasp nests, occupants with evil stingers waiting patiently for me to climb the chain-link fence, a short cut to a friend on the next road. If I was in my swim suit, I could run and leap into our backyard pool, holding my breath long enough for the wasps to give up and go home. They attack in droves. I never knew the people that lived there and I don't think they liked fence-climbing kids.<br />
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Our first home was tiny, smaller than most apartments, close to Clearwater in Pinellas Park, Florida. It was small, but it was ours! We had a huge 200 foot deep back yard. Beyond that was an unused service road that was once used for trash pickup and and tall with weeds and trees. There was man that lived in a house at the front of his equally long back yard. Standing at our patio door in the dining area of our eat-in kitchen, we couldn't see past our own backyard. That was not a bona fide backyard neighbor, wouldn't you think?<br />
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We relocated to Jacksonville and purchased our second home, double the size of our first, had a big cow pasture. It was visible from the breakfast nook and the french doors in the great room. The sun worn old owner, Mr. Williams, would ride the fences, thin and wiry as a cowboy should be. He'd tip his hat if I was in our back yard and let me know when he planned to plant rye, let the "girls" out, and warn me of the big bulls during breeding season. Our son was a toddler and the fear of him getting into the pasture was real.<br />
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Mark was transferred to Central Florida, and we chose a home in the City of Apopka. Three thousand square feet was almost twice the size of the Jacksonville house and had dozens of kitchen cabinets and wondrous multiple drawers. Looking out the kitchen window, was a screened in pool, and beyond that, the wooded forest of the Wekiva State Park. The same view was from our formal living room and master bedroom. Our oldest son was lucky, he didn't have to look past the screened pool area. The only neighbors there were bunnies and turkeys, deer and bears. Sometimes we'd enjoy a covey of quail, slipping in and out of the bushes for cover, or a small red fox, beady eyes worried for his safety. There was no concern where I was concerned. I adored those special foxy sightings. We used to slip through the barbed wire fence for a hike through the blackjack pines, sandy forest floor covered with long needles. It was so exciting to find giant bear prints in the sand, as big as a dinner plate, and next to those, delicate slices from deer hooves. Exciting and scary. What was lurking behind the next big granddaddy oak?<br />
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Children grown and gone and my parents aging, we returned to my hometown of Jacksonville, where we bought a smaller house, 1320 square feet of well-appointed space. It doesn't feel small, until you check out the kitchen cabinets of our eat-in kitchen. "Eat-in" means it is big enough to walk around comfortably and there is room for a cafe table and two chairs. There are two kitchen drawers and eight cabinets. We added more in the garage for storage. Our patio door looks out to a nice back yard with lots of tall trees. We have a big deck and tall stockade fence. What is beyond our back fence? Interstate 295. That's right! A busy eight-lane highway.<br />
<br />
We have gone from a lifetime of no backyard neighbors to sharing our backyard with everyone in the entire city. When cars drive by, it sounds like ocean waves. The motorcycles are another story. They're really loud like jet skis. I lay in bed at night and pray for the navy guys, headed back to the base in a big hury after the bars close at 2 AM. Those boys have mothers! They say that there will soon be a giant cement silencer wall. I have plans to paint mine with a forest scene.<br />
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<br />Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-49770616777113755142014-06-02T13:46:00.000-04:002015-02-01T15:24:37.931-05:00Cocoa Beach Week and the Orange Blossom Song<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Mark and I just returned home to Jacksonville after a wonderful week at our timeshare in Cocoa Beach. "Timeshare" sounds so cheesy, but it's actually a really nice place to have a guaranteed vacation every year. We own week #21, a 1-bedroom suite that is actually made from two hotel rooms. It has a bedroom with two queen beds, a living room with pull out queen couch/bed, two bathrooms, a big closet, and a closet sized kitchen, equipped with everything anyone might need. In exchange for a reasonable annual maintenance fee, this one week a year belongs to us and usually includes Memorial Day. Our sons and their wives come for the weekends, filled with pool time, adult drinks, boogie boarding in the ocean, and after bbq, we enjoyed playing beer pong and also Robert's guitar talent and he sings so well too. His wife Vanessa and he have some nice duets - Virginia Bluebell is one of my favorites. Sadly, David and Amanda could only come the first weekend. The whole week is left for relaxing and sunning and enjoying pretty Florida. I looked at pictures of the beach but they look like every other beach pic you've ever seen, so I will save you from one more.</blockquote>
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Today I woke up singing a Florida song that every little Floridian should have learned in elementary school, except me, who had Irish nuns that weren't familiar. Lo and behold, my friend Cathy Kersten, who taught this song to me a few years ago, had posted it in Facebook. Cathy makes me happy! you can search youtube for a guy singing it (the introduction is long), but below are the words.<br />
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<b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">The Orange Blossom Song</span></b></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>I want to wake up </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>in the morning,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">where the orange blossoms grow.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Where the sun comes a peeping into where I’m a sleep’n<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and the songbirds sing hello.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start;">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love the fresh air</b><br />
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and the sunshine,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">it’s good for us you know.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So I’ll make my home in Florida,<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>where the orange blossoms grow.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #006600; font-family: UnivrstyRoman BT; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-15985418400642641132014-05-09T17:21:00.000-04:002015-02-01T15:29:29.272-05:00ELYSIUM by Nicole Grayson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elysium-Nicole-Grayson/dp/0615974007" target="_blank">Have you read any good books lately?</a></i><i style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elysium-Nicole-Grayson/dp/0615974007" target="_blank">Amazon Prime members can download the Kindle edition free!</a></i></i><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Hec0ksYCL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Hec0ksYCL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8091035.<br />
<br />
Here is the review I posted in Amazon and Goodreads:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The story instantly drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat all the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">way to the very end. I loved the ending and didn't want it to stop. and so I've been daydreaming about what would happen next. Set in fabulous locations (I feel like I've been on a vacation), there was suspense, wonderful friendships, love and great sex. It was like seeing a fabulous movie, where you're telling your friends that you'd go see it again as you're walking out of the theater. And you do! I sure hope there's going to be a book #2!</span>Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-62404126798776262402014-05-06T10:44:00.002-04:002014-05-06T10:51:05.918-04:00Clothes That Closet Door!<i>Haha, a play on words!</i><br />
I live in Florida and what little winter we get (actually this winter was pretty cold!) was over in February or March. For a month I've been delaying the cleaning of the closet. I just shut the door and ignore the fact that my closet is busting at the seams with things I don't wear. I really don't have a lot of clothes, but I wear less than 75% of what is in the closet. First I need to move the turtlenecks, sweaters, boots and jackets into the guest room closet to see what I actually have. Next, slide the clothes I wear regularly to the side and, finally, try on all the clothes I never wear to find out why. Maybe I'll find a hidden gem, but my guess is, a spot, snug on the hips, too short, too long, or too ugly. No matter that it was a gift from a favorite person, my best color or material, how much (or little!) I paid, or how much I dreamed it would fit right in the future, <i><b>if it isn't right, it is wrong!</b></i> Into the reject pile those go for some lucky soul to purchase from Goodwill.<br />
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Yesterday I promised myself I would tackle the closet, but in typical Marty fashion, I distracted myself on purpose with a need to bake cupcakes. From scratch. Uh-huh. The recipe I used is in my food blog, <a href="http://martysmeals.blogspot.com/2012/11/chocolate-cake-best-ever.html" target="_blank"><b>What's For Dinner?</b></a><br />
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I promise to post a picture of the outgoing pile after I'm done. Scout's honor. <i>For those of you that know me, <a href="http://martyflorida.blogspot.com/search/label/Brownies" target="_blank"><b>I was kicked out of Brownies</b></a> in 2nd grade for skipping school, so swearing on the scouts and skipping chores may not be a guilt-ridden stretch for me.</i>Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-28408654120076036792014-05-05T20:35:00.000-04:002014-05-05T20:36:49.373-04:00Can't Stop BikingReally.<br />
I cannot stop my bike!<br />
Several years ago Mark got us both matching bikes...a small one for shortie me, and a huge bicycle for him. Mark is a big man and he is a six and a half foot tall giant! You should see him walking our five pound yorkie! It looks like Shrek walking a squirrel!!<br />
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The reason I can't stop my bike is, it is a fancy mountain bike and it has hand brakes. Like I'd EVER ride a bike up or down a mountain!! My hands have more scars than Frankenstein, so they don't quite work the way they used to. In my right hand I have three artificial joints, a fused thumb and fused long finger joints, there are two fake joints in my left hand, but they're all old and mobility is limited, so my squeezability is gone. Ah the joys of rheumatoid arthritis! Here I am, feeling good enough to ride a bike (I haven't for years!) and I can't because of mechanics. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tofuculture.com/Blog/image.axd?picture=2009%2F6%2FTrek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://tofuculture.com/Blog/image.axd?picture=2009%2F6%2FTrek.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this one online, IDENTICAL to our bikes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I even tried to drive it, Mark took my bike to the repair shop to get a tuneup: replace a flat tire and get a kick-stand. Then, in the parking lot, I took it for a spin and Mark had to stop me, as I couldn't do the squeeze to the brakes thing. Forget even trying to change gears! I will need to find a beach cruiser with foot operated coaster brakes. Too bad. I was ready to get all summer skinny, had my basket ready for the dog and everything.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/l/t1.0-9/27855_1484317954202_2440904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/l/t1.0-9/27855_1484317954202_2440904_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken several years ago when my hands worked better.<br />
Same bike, same basket, same dog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-45501052801937450712014-05-03T22:42:00.002-04:002014-05-03T22:43:54.468-04:00Organize<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">"Today is the day to let go of things that no longer serve you." </span><br />
<br />
I came across this website and didn't want to lose it.<br />
It's great!<br />
http://www.organizinglifewithless.com/Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-4442800968744221192014-04-15T23:24:00.000-04:002014-04-15T23:35:39.650-04:00Today is Looking Rosey!Want to know what my day was like? It was a typical busy day running at break-neck speed. After a fitful night's sleep, I drank coffee and filled two 7-day pill containers. Mark bathed the dog and I ran the blow dryer. Mark and I went to my 83 year old father's car lot for me to bid with dad on an online car auction. Daddy doesn't do computers. After volleying with some other dealers, the van we most wanted to purchase was ours for the full final two minutes until <u>4 seconds</u> before closing, when some slime ball, whose name shows up as a*****e (really, you can spell asshole with his name) slipped in under the wire and took it from us without a second to spare. Usually very calm, I felt my face turn red as I wished for the good old days where you could actually see the vehicles in living color and the other bidders are polite enough to realize when one truly wants a vehicle and respects the "going, going, gone" at auction. After watching the two vehicles we were interested in slip through our fingertips, sigh, I ran an errand to the tag agency downtown, then back to the car lot to drop off a customer's new tag before heading home.<br />
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Mark and I stopped to pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy, then finally back home. I unloaded the dishwasher and Mark put the shelves back into the clean smoker grill. I cleaned out the fridge, lots of containers of mystery leftovers, fuzzy strawberries, dried out blueberries, and moldy cheese hit the disposal. Finally, we had a late lunch of viable leftovers. Next, I followed Mark to the mechanic to drop off our SUV for new rear brakes. Back home again, we started a weeks' worth of laundry and vacuumed the house.<br />
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Just prior to dusk seems to be the magic planting time, and the roses I bought a few weeks ago are finally in the ground! I cannot wait until we have fragrant blooms to pick! Click on each to go to a link for photos and descriptions.<br />
<a href="http://hedgerowrose.com/rose-gardening/2011/07/12/growing-blaze-climbing-rose/" target="_blank">Climbing Blaze climbing rose</a><br />
<a href="http://www.heirloomroses.com/roses/hybrid-tea-roses/chicago-peace.html" target="_blank">Chicago Peace hybrid tea rose</a><br />
<a href="http://www.heirloomroses.com/roses/hybrid-tea-roses/perfume-delight.html" target="_blank">Perfume Delight hybrid tea rose</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Climbing-Golden-Showers-Rose-Live-Plant-/251242515492?_trksid=p2054897.l4275" target="_blank">Golden Showers climbing rose</a><br />
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Mark also planted two of four azaleas before it got too dark to dig more holes. I watered roses while Mark dug, then we cooked dinner and cleaned up. As soon as this is posted to my blog, I will go pack for an overnight trip to Tampa tomorrow where I have a job Wednesday and Thursday making photo mugs at the student union of a community college.<br />
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It was a normal, busy day for me. I have friends that complain that I never return their calls. Imagine that!Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-89085998346092750062014-04-14T21:34:00.000-04:002014-04-15T08:13:02.161-04:00Back Yard Is a Blank Slate<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpKBgFTukWOoYC3WNZFlt5K9iCCSVdxUX9-Diw_EhHUoyNxEV-ssrSOmK1bj2UbWp_fwY4oCaD4G1QqOhS6nT0HoCAvNoIMR-w18xTW3YovJFl8cm_ATkt_Qgo7eqRKh_e1c0mMWH8Yc/s1600/backyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpKBgFTukWOoYC3WNZFlt5K9iCCSVdxUX9-Diw_EhHUoyNxEV-ssrSOmK1bj2UbWp_fwY4oCaD4G1QqOhS6nT0HoCAvNoIMR-w18xTW3YovJFl8cm_ATkt_Qgo7eqRKh_e1c0mMWH8Yc/s1600/backyard.JPG" height="206" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on picture for larger view.</td></tr>
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Our backyard is a blank slate. There are many very large, gorgeous trees with a 150 foot canopy that casts a grass-killing shadow over the property. Mark raked a winter's worth of fallen leaves and pine straw, filling a big trash can and TWENTY-TWO big black trash bags. He sprayed weeds - the only green in the yard, and trimmed back the only two plants in the backyard: a palmetto and a giant invasive philodendron (hate them!).<br />
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This weekend we participated in the neighborhood garage sale, cooked a smoker full of chicken legs (60) and went to a family reunion. Afterward, we went to visit my parents. On Sunday we went to church, visited an uncle's grave, had lunch with family, and went to my parents' house again. Somewhere in there, we watered all the new plants in the front yard and then Mark and I found time to start planting. Here is a list of the items we planted:<br />
<ul>
<li>3 Christmas poinsettias (2 from mom, one was mine)</li>
<li>2 hip-high Japanese plum trees - outside each bedroom window to block light and traffic noise (mom)</li>
<li>a nice hydrangea bush (from mom's yard)</li>
<li>a skinny Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow plant that will one day be a nice, full, flowering bush (mom)</li>
</ul>
<div>
Plants we have collected but haven't planted yet:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>4 big azaleas - 2 pink, 2 white</li>
<li>3 or 4 climbing roses for the back fence</li>
<li>a trumpet plant that I rooted from a cutting daddy gave me</li>
<li>a foot-tall baby dogwood, potted by momma's friend Lucille Long, now deceased</li>
<li>a couple of dozen orange blooming amaryllis bulbs (mom only wanted red ones)</li>
<li>some hibiscus cuttings I rooted from my front yard plants</li>
<li>grass seed, fertilizer, and bug killer - all to be spread eventually</li>
</ul>
<div>
Planting the rest of the items listed will be a challenge. Our neighborhood was built on what used to be a swamp. Plants and trees didn't have to go deep for water, so the surface is coated with a billion trillion roots. We cannot just pick a spot and dig a hole. Mark has to use the limb loppers with every hole he starts. It's a big fight to dig a little hole...The amaryllis will be a big pain!<br />
<br />
We think spreading pine straw (they sell bales at Lowes) will be nicer to walk on and more cost efficient than mulch. Our idea is to make big curvy beds. I'd like to also add bunches of pretty, shade loving, mounding impatient flowers and maybe some other flowers (white periwinkles?) or an assortment of wild flower seeds or squash to fill in the empty spaces. Next year, the yard will look lovely.</div>
</div>
Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-31372308261302533332014-04-09T13:29:00.001-04:002014-04-14T20:40:09.957-04:00It's Been A Year<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1qoOWuVSsmfxQ0PE5KHdgvOj2rRT82G6xD_ct8wACaDFjEJTMw9DwOdiCc0V3enVTES7Ev9b20CWtkcQ6nrQ087TpB6AdZSu_LfI6DxSE2OCQtWoFlaWEyIc4-PH17s-gWrFxFd8Bn4/s1600/m1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1qoOWuVSsmfxQ0PE5KHdgvOj2rRT82G6xD_ct8wACaDFjEJTMw9DwOdiCc0V3enVTES7Ev9b20CWtkcQ6nrQ087TpB6AdZSu_LfI6DxSE2OCQtWoFlaWEyIc4-PH17s-gWrFxFd8Bn4/s1600/m1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want the boxwood hedge moved and transplanted with azaleas.</td></tr>
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We sold the Apopka house and downsized into our Jacksonville home on April 2, 2013. We had big plans to tear out the garden tub in the small master bathroom and put in a shower. We wanted to have wood like laminate flooring put down. Those two things haven't happened yet, but we did get both bathroom ceiling fluorescent bar lights removed and pretty sconce-like lights put over the mirror in each bathroom. Mark replaced the weak exhaust fans with nice lighted ones. This sounds like an easy fix, but it included tearing into the ceiling and having to lengthen electrical wire (requiring a certified electrician for safety). Mark also hired a handyman and they worked together to raise the drop ceiling in the master bath/shower to 7' high. It's better than having to stoop, but imagine taking a shower with only 6" clearance! I guess he's used to it. They also added a can light to the shower ceiling so we don't have to bathe in the dark.<br />
<br />
It was a long cold winter and now that the sun has returned, we (meaning Mark) have been working on the front yard and put in azaleas, gardenias, impatients, amaryllis, grass plugs, and two citrus saplings. It looks better, but it doesn't look like much this year. Just wait until next year when the plants are mature!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ1PlwrQyrYIKYhQbsJ605F28u6snuJQFQbzKvi9Zo0_FFxlu-dpm0t36A6UoxtsbvuJ-UzOPuYT5MfN7STaKrBhhicuVg6ZwejDNo8nLZLZoJQ6gaBVETXu6zmr6BwjI6YqlcRgTRJ4/s1600/m2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ1PlwrQyrYIKYhQbsJ605F28u6snuJQFQbzKvi9Zo0_FFxlu-dpm0t36A6UoxtsbvuJ-UzOPuYT5MfN7STaKrBhhicuVg6ZwejDNo8nLZLZoJQ6gaBVETXu6zmr6BwjI6YqlcRgTRJ4/s1600/m2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass plugs should fill in quickly. We need more!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUBcQec8g5_YScOFd-BJu2aoYDxTzJ8prHaaSs4PWht4dPQetUAmEVnXkrH7uNwd_NG-0g65SsLSoWe4UImD9BjDGfJBsqeztIHrAgx0Rh0ZvXF3PwzjAEFsBYtAXwajZXQNB2au9VHg/s1600/m3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUBcQec8g5_YScOFd-BJu2aoYDxTzJ8prHaaSs4PWht4dPQetUAmEVnXkrH7uNwd_NG-0g65SsLSoWe4UImD9BjDGfJBsqeztIHrAgx0Rh0ZvXF3PwzjAEFsBYtAXwajZXQNB2au9VHg/s1600/m3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day amaryllis bulbs planted, a bit droopy.</td></tr>
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The whole yard, front and back, is covered in a road map of thick tree roots and it's hard to dig even the smallest of holes to plunk a plant into the ground. This place used to be a swamp and roots didn't have to go deep to get water. I have more flowering plants to put in the back yard. Mark raked and raked inches deep leaves and exposed a bunch of weeds that need murdering. After that, we (meaning Mark) plan to take large portions of the yard, especially around the edges of the fence, to be mulched with pine straw and climbing roses against the back fence, hydrangea in a low wet corner, and a variety of other pretty azaleas and stuff here and there. We (Mark) will then spread grass seed in the unmulched areas, as the back is pretty shady and St. Augustine grass dies back there. I hope the plants we bought will survive the mottled light. Oh, and we were gifted a fire pit and I want to put that in the yard, rocks or sand beneath it and chairs circled around. Next fall is going to be wonderful!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsFvIZbcrhoOHYncMd2zHkbvkYNC6sRFotgIpnDpGgjufWcePJzsjlaCYCVj35bLfrO8Xq_oV0a1f7nToJU8Vwb1d9py9q0abAbpp26aiScqimLPBz27PaMnjmCMaA8QzVnTYheLonBI/s1600/m4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsFvIZbcrhoOHYncMd2zHkbvkYNC6sRFotgIpnDpGgjufWcePJzsjlaCYCVj35bLfrO8Xq_oV0a1f7nToJU8Vwb1d9py9q0abAbpp26aiScqimLPBz27PaMnjmCMaA8QzVnTYheLonBI/s1600/m4.jpg" height="210" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front garden, a week later, blooming amaryllis!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-19797439221225387142014-01-30T15:00:00.000-05:002016-10-01T19:57:06.470-04:00Backyard Bird SightingsWe have a <a href="http://bromebirdcare.com/products/classic/" target="_blank">squirrel buster bird feeder</a> that we fill with an inexpensive wild bird seed mix. We have squirrels that hang around, hoping for seeds to drop to the ground for a snack, and even though it goes against my better judgement, I feed the squirrels on the ledge of the back deck. They get a sprinkling of seeds, stale bread, or leftover bits of fruit. Currently they are sharing cornbread crumbs with a mourning dove. In exchange, I get to get to know the locals, their cute antics, and I even give them names. We have Dimples with a dark dot on each cheek, Fatso, Bat - pointy white ears, Tail - his tail is a bit slim on hair at the end crook, and Little Chicken, because she is small, quick and fearful. They come and go, rarely sharing the bounty, and are occasionally chased up a tree by our ever ready little dog, Juliet, who loves her doggie door.<br />
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The purpose of this post is not to familiarize you with pet squirrels, but to keep a record of the birds we see on the deck and the feeder. I plan to go to this blog occasionally with bird sighting updates, mostly for my own use.<br />
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I often go to this <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/" target="_blank">bird identification link</a>.<br />
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1/30/14 - close to freezing weather today<br />
tufted titmouse male and female<br />
female cardinal<br />
Carolina chickadees<br />
pileated woodpecker, with its tufted red head<br />
squirrels - Fatso, Little Chicken and Tail<br />
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2015 - I quit feeding the squirrels. They were bringing fleas and my dog was miserable!Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-4045740346499796612014-01-30T12:43:00.003-05:002014-02-04T08:42:21.036-05:00Like children, a dog's behavior gets worse before it gets better.Never co-sleep with your darling little puppy. One day you won't want to share your bed with a hairy farting fleabag (the dog, not your husband) that insists that sleeping between her human mother and father. Your sleep is disrupted by your always-at-ready-to-protect-you canine, that will pop up from a deep sleep at 3 AM because she heard a leaf fall outside and feigns a full bladder to get the opportunity to drag you from bed to open the door so she can explore, instead finding the trail of a raccoon that she must follow. We go to bed between 11-12 and she goes outside to potty before we hit the hay. We expect her to sleep and not wake us up until about 6-7 in the morning. Juliet wakes us up several times every night. Sleeping in bed with just my husband would be nice. Together we made a decision to retrain Juliet to sleep alone.<br />
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Ask any parent or teacher...When you make a change, behavior gets worse before it improves. <br />
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When Mark and I go off, we put Juliet in the kitchen, where she happily waits behind the gate that separates her from the carpeted rest of the house (that she will wet on) until we return from wherever we went and deserted her. She is familiar with the gate (our fourth, she broke out of, chewed up, or climbed the others), her food and water bowl, the potty pad that she uses only in a pinch - she can "hold it" for about 6-7 hours, and the fact that when she is placed there, we always return and free her from her kitchen jail and the gate is opened to the rest of the house where squeak toys abound. She tries to hold it, but if we are gone a long time, she will use her potty pad. She can jump on a stool and look out the window. She probably barks her head off.<br />
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The kitchen is a familiar lock-up, why wouldn't she adapt quickly to her new overnight digs? Nope, Juliet is in a full war with us to reclaim her spot in our bed.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4HaFO-gWdz8nZFnBMcfpe4GrIbNevGWIo482zksP586yY0reOob97Zc7OmHr53n9kF71S29h3iXxk84VZGoO__ypXKgGnhSyloyQjjv9-xuyogJuQhuCvPRvWVvv35yZf7CMfWydM_0/s1600/Jul.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4HaFO-gWdz8nZFnBMcfpe4GrIbNevGWIo482zksP586yY0reOob97Zc7OmHr53n9kF71S29h3iXxk84VZGoO__ypXKgGnhSyloyQjjv9-xuyogJuQhuCvPRvWVvv35yZf7CMfWydM_0/s1600/Jul.JPG" height="298" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This darling little pooch is really a monster.</td></tr>
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The first night she intermittently cried and whined and yipped all night long.<br />
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The second night she cried, whined and yipped, she ripped the stuffing from her toy, pulled the cushions from the chairs, climbed onto the table and knocked the oranges to the floor. She refused to go outside before bed and pooped next to the potty pad on the tile, pulled her bed to the middle of the room, and knocked over her food bowl. <br />
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The third night we moved the pads out of the chairs so she wouldn't be able to jump onto them. She jumped, pulled pads off the table, knocked a chair over (we didn't hear that?!), pooped next to the potty pad, missing both the newspaper we added and the potty pad, tore both to bits, knocked over food and water, drug her bed from it's spot and urinated on the floor and drug her bedding through it. She figured out if she wrapped her paws around the bars, she can jiggle the gate and make a good noise. Oh and since she worked herself into a tizzy, she threw up. Twice. <br />
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Last night there was yipping and whining, We turned the chairs away from the table, cushions on table with my purse and jacket. She couldn't get onto the table, but she was able to pull everything off through the rungs on the chair backs. Juliet pooped and missed the potty pad, but it was closer this time, hitting the newspaper, so we suppose her front end was on the potty pad. She did urinate on the pad, yay. She did not knock over her bowls, but drug them from their regular spot. She moved her bed and blanket from its original spot, which is her choice. A little improvement. <br />
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Tonight we plan to make sure nothing is on the kitchen table, we will move the chairs out of the room and the food bowls will be on the counter (nighttime is for sleeping, not dining). We will continue to leave a potty pad and additional newspaper beside it, and are considering moving her bedding into a box (open to the side, so she will feel safer, more enclosed. It has been freezing and we hope for some warmer weather tonight to take her out for a long walk and get that bad girl energy out of her system.<br />
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UPDATE 1/31/14 - Last night after a good walk and potty - she held it until morning :) we decided to move the chairs, not into the garage because it was freezing outside, but in the kitchen away from the table. One went in front of the pantry, the other near the fridge. The dish towel was moved from the rung of the stove. We didn't have a box, so Juliet had her regular bedding on the rug in front of the sink. It was mostly quiet last night (!) but she did bark a little once, which we ignored. Mark's unlocked car was rummaged (nothing taken) and this was probably what she was barking at. Then at 4AM we heard a loud slap sound. Juliet had jumped from the fridge chair to the counter top, walked across clean pots, pans and knives that were drying (!) and made her way to the end of the counter close to the closed gate to the living room. She knocked down my pill dispenser (a few were on the floor) and a sample piece of wood flooring (the slap sound). We caught her there on the counter. She was worked up, panting and drooling like she does when there's a thunderstorm. The second time she woke us up was 5AM and she was making noises like she was moving furniture. She had opened the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I will put a rubber band on the knobs to stop that problem. Crazy dog WILL get used to her new nighttime digs. She is very very smart and will keep pushing out buttons until she realizes she will not win.<br />
2/1/14<br />
Juliet is such a fighter. It is a battle of the wills. Last night I put her bed in a box, one side open so she could come and go. We thought she'd like that and maybe feel more secure. <i>Oh contrair mon frer!</i> JuJu battled with that box all night long!! We could hear her trying to beat that box up, scratching/digging it and trying to push it, but with her bedding inside, it was too just heavy for 5 pound Juliet. Momma suggested laying the chairs on their side and that was a brilliant idea. Juliet could not get on table or counters. I guarantee that if she could, Juliet would have pushed that box over to the doggie gate and jumped on top, then leap over the gate to freedom. What would she do? Go to our door, slip a paw under and jiggle the door and beg to resume her spot in our big warm bed. So glad that didn't happen! We wonder now, maybe she is afraid of the dark? Tonight, chairs on side, bedding - no box, and a night light. Maybe this will be the night that we get to sleep uninterrupted by Juliet the Terrier Terror. Potty pad had poo and wee - Bullseye!<br />
2/2/14<br />
Pretty delighted with a 6:15 wake up call! The night light must be the charm. We did not lay the chairs down and when I went into the kitchen, Jul was on one, doing the panting/drooling panic thing. Maybe she got up there and was afraid to jump down onto the hard tile. More likely, she just thought we'd hear her occasional pitiful yip (I thought she might have her head stuck in the gate or something) from a higher spot in the kitchen and, since I was awake and it was (close to) morning, I went to investigate. The potty pad had wee, no poo anywhere, thanks to Mark taking her on an evening walk. Tonight's plan: evening walk, chairs will be removed completely and the night light will remain on. I would still love to sleep, uninterrupted, until daylight wakes me up, not a rotten little dog, but it looks like she is getting used to the fact that this is where she will be sleeping from now on. My morning hours are erratic; I get up at 5:30 two or three mornings a week to babysit for a good friend's daughter, who happens to be a neighbor. After their father leaves for work, I wake two little girls, feed, dress, brush teeth and hair, then their mother gets home around 8. I am naturally an early riser, but I'd just prefer no alarms (dog or clock) on the other mornings.<br />
2/3/14<br />
<b>OH WHAT A GOOOD GIRL</b>! <b>We are having a PUPPY PARTY</b>! Although I <i>think</i> I may have heard one pre-dawn yip, Juliet has finally soothed herself and allowed us to sleep through the night uninterrupted. <i>Halleluia!! Oh Happy Day</i> (sing it with me). It was 7:30 as daylight peeped into my window and I stretched and wondered, "Is she dead? Has she somehow hanged herself in the dog gate?" and I hurried to the kitchen. The sweetest little bright-eyed pooch was sitting on the other side of the doggie gate, grinning at me with her ears smoothed back flat on her head. Juliet smiles a one-sided lip raise, like Elvis. She KNEW she was a good girl and she was proud of herself. We keep a little container of coveted chewy dog treats on the counter within reach of the gate and I took it and shook it and told Juliet how amazing and brilliant she is, while Juliet did the trick she knows means YES, which is to spin in circles. I opened the gate and she went straight to the front door, hurried outside to relieve herself, then without being tempted to sniff some night critter's trail, she immediately came back inside and spinned in circles again (yes yes yes). I gave her not one, but TWO treats. Ohhh what a good girl! I am so so so pleased with her good behavior. I could write a book about how fabulous this feels to have a good little dog and how wonderful I feel after sleeping through the night. I haven't felt this rested in five years. Oh. My. God. This is magnificent! Juliet's bedding has been moved a bit, but not far, and that's her choice, and I pushed it back to the corner with my foot. Since I moved the chairs to the dining room, the counters and little cafe table were undisturbed. There was a plastic shredded plastic shopping bag...I think it was on the pantry floor and held the new package of potty pads. I can visualize her now, having a ball pulling that bag out from under the door. Her potty pad is placed in front of the door to the garage and that was flipped over with wee wee on the backside and a little bit on the tile nearby. Although she took a walk last night and did her duty, hiding underneath the pad was one little poopie, so it appears that she went on the pad, then decided to hide/bury/flip the pad over. With no place to urinate, she used the top. Yorkies have a bladder the size of a walnut and I don't expect her to hold it all night. Not a problem, I threw everything away and quickly cleaned up the minuscule puddle on the tile with a sudsy paper towel. Juliet dutifully broke the rubber bands I looped over the door knobs on the under sink cabinet on the two prior nights, but last night I switched to a loop of elastic (I sew), and she was not able to open that cabinet and left the others alone. It is incredible how pleased I am with this one single night of success, and although she may have a rebellion in the future, it is clear that she knows what we expect. She is sleeping beside me on the couch now as I enjoy the wonderful morning. Occasionally she wakes up and we have a "chat" about how very good she was last night and how much better our lives will be if this will continue. I swear to you, she stares into my eyes with a look that say, "I understand". She is dreaming now, her little paws are running fast and she twitches her ears and making an occasional muffled woof, surely chasing bunnies and squirrels. Juliet dreams that she is king of the yard, protecting us from monsters. I hope she catches a big one.<br />
2/3/14<br />
<b>SLEEP GLORIOUS SLEEP! </b>Brilliant Juliet understands that momma-lady and daddy-man mean business. Her good behavior last night proved that Juliet can be even more perfect than we dreamed. Mark's good friend came through town and spent the night. Kevin has yorkies, and while he gave Juliet lots of fun little dog attention, I wondered if she would revert to her familiar bad behavior from her kitchen jail during the night. Because I was tired, I went to bed at 10, Mark had the task of making sure Juliet was taken care of. Mark and Kevin took her outside to roam around the front yard for a while, then back inside for more ball chasing and lots of good doggie cuddles before they went to bed around midnight. I woke up early to a quiet house and a little stream of dim light peeping through the drapes. My first thought was that Kevin let Juliet sleep with him. I am pretty sure that both of their dogs sleep in the community bed. I tiptoed into the kitchen and lo and behold, there sat our smiling little girl, good as gold, in the kitchen. I am beyond thrilled with her good "company" nighttime behavior. Her food/water bowls were in place, no water spilled. Her bed with fluffy blanket on top was against the wall, not pulled apart into the center of the room. And except for a little wee spot in the center, her potty pad was undisturbed. The under sink cabinet still had the elastic band holding the doors securely shut. Juliet is (finally) a very good girl and was excited to get her well-earned morning chewy treat. We are so proud.Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-89050031560434369792014-01-30T11:19:00.000-05:002014-01-30T11:19:00.288-05:00Otosclerosis? No! It must be PET.When we were in North Carolina, I noticed that I didn't need to clear my ears as we went up and down the mountain. I always had to clear my ears at a certain curve on Beech Mountain, going up and going down. Now I don't...How strange is that?<br />
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Shortly after, I began hearing my own voice, amplified, (oy) inside my head, plus breathing and heartbeat accompanied by a feeling of clogged eustachian tubes, I made an appointment with an ENT - Ear Nose & Throat doctor. He used the old fashioned wishbone noise maker thing, he sprayed numbing stuff in my nose and sent a long tube with a lighted, camera end to look for polyps, he tested my hearing with tight earphones and high and low noises. I passed everything, in fact, my hearing is a bit above average. No secrets around me! The prognosis is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otosclerosis" target="_blank">Otosclerosis</a><u>.</u> I have calcification of an inner ear bone, it will affect both ears eventually, I will lose my hearing and require surgery to replace my stirrup bone. This surgery may or may not reverse the hearing loss, and it may or may not stop the noises in my ears. The inner ear sound of Otosclerosis is ringing. I do not have ringing.<br />
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I went home and researched online. I am convinced that I DO NOT have otosclerosis!! It is a heredity problem and nobody in my family, mother's or father's family history has any hearing loss. Secondly, I do not have the ringing ears symptom of Otosclerosis. I do, however, have EVERY classic symptom of another inner ear dilemma called PET - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulous_Eustachian_tube" target="_blank">Patulous Eustachian Tube</a>, including the simple "test" to see if you have it: In a sitting position, hang your head down between your knees. Voila! The noises stop! Laying prone with head lower than feet helps too. Anything that sends blood to the head and causes a stuffiness to the ears does what my body stopped doing; it closes my eustachian tubes and stops the echo. I may go through the rest of my day upside down...<br />
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Doctors must hate the internet.<br />
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I am going with my gut feeling and decided for a second opinion, this time with a hearing specialist that does delicate surgery like cochlear implants (don't need that, thank you) and I talked to his nurse and she listened to my symptoms and said that he could help me. <br />
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It sounds like I am a whiner, "I hear my voice amplified inside my ear..." "I can't judge my voice volume and singing is miserable..." "I hear my heartbeat..." My breathing makes my inner ear feel like I am listening to a wind tunnel..." "My ear won't clear." After a few days of this, trust me, you will consider hammering a big nail into your ear. Don't worry, I won't do it, but just imagining the relief from doing this makes me feel better.Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-89103369717370858562014-01-13T11:11:00.000-05:002014-01-13T11:11:07.916-05:00Christmas Trees, Headaches, Wreathes, and My Ears<div>
I love real Christmas trees and have fond memories of laying beneath our tree as a child to see the sparkling ornaments and breathe deep the wonderful pine aroma. How can something that smells so wonderful create such awful allergies?</div>
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This is the FIRST Christmas in 26 years that I didn't have a nagging headache throughout the season. We always had a live tree. Every year we looked at fake trees, but never bought one. Lo and behold, there was a Christmas gift of a brand new unopened artificial tree in the attic of our new Jacksonville home. The weekend after Thanksgiving we set the new tree up. Oh how pretty! Oh how easy! I am happy to say that I did not have a headache throughout the season! I am allergic to the mold that grows on Christmas trees.<div>
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Feeling bad about not having the pine scent in the house, Mark surprised me with a beautiful huge, live wreath from Costco. We hung it over the fireplace and it looked so pretty. This is about the same time that my right ear clogged up. I have heard my voice echo in my ear, every heartbeat, every breath - in my right ear for two months. I went to the doctor and took medicine. I took Zyrtec by day and Benedryl at night. I had daydreams of poking a needle into my eardrum, but I'd never do it. Mark took the wreath down yesterday and my ear cleared. Today it's a little bit clogged, but not nearly as bad as it has been. Today I only hear the echo of my voice, but am free from the heartbeat and breathing sounds. I will continue to take allergy pills until the pine allergies clear out of my system. </div>
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Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-65575388836832334102013-12-15T08:48:00.001-05:002015-02-01T15:51:23.187-05:00Christmas Party Idea For Bored KidsMy house is small. Really small... three bedrooms, two baths, a living room, kitchen and dining room all in 1320 sq ft. We moved here from a big big house and we are loving small home living! Because it is our first Christmas back in Jacksonville where most of my family lives (sans our two sons and their wives), I decided to host the family Christmas Party this year. We will have five children from ages 3-10 and sixteen adults. It's going to be a tight squeeze in our living room, but we are family and everything will work. I've been thinking of what the children could do to not be bored and considered placing my laptop with kid DVDs to watch in a guest bedroom that happens to have a book shelf of children's books (leftovers from my adult sons), Start a Santa puzzle on the table and that still may be a reality, but I can imagine unsupervised bed jumping and bonked noggins. <br />
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We live in Florida and have a nice fenced in back yard. I was thinking, <i>it's too bad it isn't Easter so we could have an egg hunt</i>. OH GENIUS IDEA! I am going to put up a lighted tree on the back deck and buy a bunch of plastic ornaments to hide around the back yard. Who finds the star for the top wins a prize! They can decorate the tree with their findings.<br />
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I went to Big Lots and bought a 4' fake tree for $10, a box of 48 red plastic ornaments for $8 and recycled a gold star for the top. The kids LOVED it and after they found all the ornaments and decorated, the re-hid ornaments for another round. Success!Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-35414587988502387362013-09-17T11:21:00.000-04:002013-09-17T11:22:28.925-04:00Bath and Vanity RenovationsHere is our <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_31053-17771-34155+AN_4294798245__?productId=3066681&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1" target="_blank">new master vanity light</a>. It is actually brushed nickel (silver), but the picture makes it look bronze. The light we used to have was a long fluorescent, like the sort that belongs in a garage. (What were they thinking??)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCmOuPkbjPBcNvENk5yEFnnPb05TCZnt1dP0px34kQLNbag3JuSAfGwn1qUL5mnFQuIIM3qzBCbUw83i2SxWxWlRBjket1c47xotgNLsNchhuSeuRIGd-3p9O4zB4kgEnqQx_t8oXH_4/s1600/bath1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCmOuPkbjPBcNvENk5yEFnnPb05TCZnt1dP0px34kQLNbag3JuSAfGwn1qUL5mnFQuIIM3qzBCbUw83i2SxWxWlRBjket1c47xotgNLsNchhuSeuRIGd-3p9O4zB4kgEnqQx_t8oXH_4/s320/bath1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Mark is super tall, 6-1/2 feet to be exact, and the dropped ceiling above the shower crowded him. I can't imagine taking a shower with only a few inches to spare above my head! The ceiling is going UP. The old light fixture reminded me of the schoolhouse type that is on a ceiling fan. Out it goes! After the ceiling is raised and green mold resistant wallboard is in, they'll install a flush <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_128326-53058-9210201_0__?productId=3150997&Ntt=can+lights" target="_blank">can light fixture</a> that is specifically for damp places. This little room contains the toilet and a huge garden tub. (What were they thinking??) Eventually the tub and tile will be removed and a nice shower and more updated tile walls and glass enclosure will go up - but not this week. See the gawdawful fluorescent lights behind our contractor? OUT they go! The weak exhaust fan is coming out and a <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_15680-14-679L_0__?productId=3377250&Ntt=bathroom+exhaust+fan+with+light">lighted fan</a> is going in. Along with the can light in the shower, this should provide enough light for this small bathroom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyXzXQQN773xfZXT8HmDFtBXPKQZ3aI4LzlK3k4H4Q1xypAHmBB2SAzjW9HWxgoowl5LVYq4tayfCVLmVbGBNcTDDQ9CSKsg4ZXtmaNxR83fRw-QMJZj91woXsay84OyxG50EU2yyxj0/s1600/bath2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyXzXQQN773xfZXT8HmDFtBXPKQZ3aI4LzlK3k4H4Q1xypAHmBB2SAzjW9HWxgoowl5LVYq4tayfCVLmVbGBNcTDDQ9CSKsg4ZXtmaNxR83fRw-QMJZj91woXsay84OyxG50EU2yyxj0/s320/bath2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contractor is Chuck Porter is younger brother to a friend from high school.</td></tr>
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The guest bath renovations include removing the crappy exhaust fan, replacing it with a<a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_15680-14-679L_0__?productId=3377250&Ntt=bathroom+exhaust+fan+with+light"> lighted fan</a>, and they'll be changing out the icky fluorescent ceiling lighting with this pretty vanity light:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB482Fn42gsEQu6zgLH9VW1HZVDDkIAXPmR1ekKhVH9DT2y3ecsB4ZoPwGMyvc9zip5Vr1LwcUfcJQv6f7uErXkS-ssktjpXCcRkvPfnWWXcjJwxiAU9nLZzvA_arWs19_UFMUGDWYJk0/s1600/bath3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB482Fn42gsEQu6zgLH9VW1HZVDDkIAXPmR1ekKhVH9DT2y3ecsB4ZoPwGMyvc9zip5Vr1LwcUfcJQv6f7uErXkS-ssktjpXCcRkvPfnWWXcjJwxiAU9nLZzvA_arWs19_UFMUGDWYJk0/s320/bath3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You can see pictures of the house before we moved in <a href="http://martyflorida.blogspot.com/2013/02/we-love-this-houselets-change-it.html">here.</a><br />
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The rain keeps raining and somehow a huge crop of Wandering Jew weed has made its home in my backyard, totally covering the ground. The lawn spray service came yesterday and sprayed some sort of KILL that will murder everything green back there, leaving sand. We plan to plug St. Augustine grass and make some pretty garden areas and also figure out a good spot for the fire pit my sister Patty gave us last week. It looks <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hometrends-Lattice-Fire-Pit/17242771">like this one</a>.Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-10294462049827291322013-09-15T09:35:00.000-04:002013-09-15T09:35:14.539-04:00Juvenile DermatomyositisMy 22-year old daughter in law has a chronic auto-immune disorder, <a href="http://www.juveniledermatomyositis.org.uk/DocStore/File_Library/PDFs/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20for%20Parents%20.pdf" target="_blank">juvenile dermatomyositi</a>s. Amanda's started in middle school after getting a required vaccine. She has not had a remission that I am aware of.<br />
I've been researching and the link I gave above pretty much sums it up. Here are some other links:<br />
<a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dermatomyositis/dermatomyositis.htm" target="_blank">NINDS</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #333333; font-family: 'PT Serif', Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://www.curejm.org/" target="_blank">Cure JM Foundation</a></span><br />
<a href="http://arimayasheart.com/" target="_blank">Life In The Autoimmune Lane</a> blog<br />
<a href="http://www.itsmyositis.blogspot.com/2013/04/online-current-study-into-myositis.html" target="_blank">Online Study</a> Get paid for it having dermatomyositis.<br />
<a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf" target="_blank">The Spoon Theory</a> - what it's like to have a chronic illness<br />
<a href="http://www.myositis.org/" target="_blank">Myositis</a> is a blanket name for a bunch of neuro muscular disorders<br />
You can just type in dermatomyositis in FaceBook and come up with a few groups.Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-46734844357433999492013-09-15T06:08:00.000-04:002013-09-15T06:11:02.154-04:00Anticipating The HolidaysI came across this cute musical <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/211033/november-23-2008/a-colbert-christmas--jon-stewart" target="_blank">invitation to enjoy Hanukkah</a>. It's sort of early to be thinking of the Holidays, but I didn't want to lose this link.<br />
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Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-46621690011092417932013-09-03T04:30:00.002-04:002013-09-15T06:31:32.899-04:00Jax Home Repairs and Upgrades<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">UPDATE: I found a man that will do some of the repairs! It turns out that I knew his sister in high school, Maureen Porter (she died several years ago from cancer). He begins work this Tuesday to: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Replace fluorescent light fixtures in both bathroom vanity areas with more attractive lights above the mirror, then patch ceiling where fluorescents hung.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remove fluorescent light from master bath above toilet and replace with can light.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Replace old bathroom vent fans with new lighted vent fans.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Raise ceiling over master bathtub and replace old light fixture with a can light.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Patch master bath walls where Mark removed old drop ceiling above toilet area.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Patch roof over garage where a large tree limb dropped and poked a 3" hole an inch deep.</span></li>
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This is what we need to find time and money to do -<br />
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Major renovations:<br />
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<li>Replace master garden bathtub <a href="https://www.tileredi.com/shower-pans/bathtub-replacement.html" target="_blank">with a shower</a> </li>
<li>Raise dropped bath ceiling</li>
<li>Add a bathroom window</li>
<li>Change light fixtures in both bathrooms and master vanity</li>
<li>Replace carpeting in all 3 bedrooms</li>
<li>Replace great room and dining room carpet with wooden flooring</li>
<li>Replace kitchen cabinets/counter top</li>
<li>Re-tile kitchen and foyer</li>
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Outside::<br />
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<li>Get the lawn up to par; weed and seed, plug more grass in bare spots -<b>HIRED A LAWN SPRAYING SERVICE!!</b></li>
<li>Remove those damn pygmy palms</li>
<li>Move the two baby crepe myrtles to a better location to thrive</li>
<li>Clear out front gardens and plant a hedge of azaleas, mulch</li>
<li>Eliminate evil bougainvillea, replace with plumbago<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b> </b></span></span></li>
<li>Plant some gardenias and camellias and knock out roses</li>
<li>Get a satsuma tree and a lemon tree</li>
<li>Replace stockade fence</li>
<li>Repair boards on back deck, pressure wash and seal</li>
<li>Purchase a storage shed for back yard to store lawn equipment</li>
<li>Add fill dirt in back yard low spots, plant some roses and other foliage in back</li>
<li>Move both hibiscus plants to back yard</li>
<li>Start a 4x4 raised veggie garden</li>
<li>Get some mosquito repelling potted plants for front and back porch</li>
<li>Buy a bug zapper - <b>DONE!! FOUND ONE AT THE COSTCO OUTLET STORE $30.</b></li>
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When we get time we will:</div>
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<li>Take down family room vertical blinds, hang drapes</li>
<li>Change light fixture in kitchen - <b>DONE! MARK SURPRISED ME!</b></li>
<li>Remove awful bathroom lights</li>
<li>Install new lighted exhaust fans in both bathrooms</li>
<li>Remove kitchen wallpaper, paint walls solid color</li>
<li>Fill hole behind recliner</li>
<li>Spot paint walls where Mark filled holes</li>
<li>Sew room darkening/noise cancelling liner to master bedroom drapes</li>
<li>Unpack guest rooms</li>
<li>Hang drapes in back bedroom</li>
<li>Buy full sized bed for front bedroom </li>
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Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-5276922977160297532013-08-31T01:45:00.001-04:002013-09-02T14:01:29.853-04:00Make A Baby Quilt Busy taking care of things at my parents' home, I totally forgot a baby shower this weekend! I have the material for a special rag quilt. Can I do it in one day? You betcha! I found the top fabric at a little fabric shop, all cotton and cute for a little girl, packaged together in a perfect little set. The back is made from nice soft flannels I found at Joann's. I made the quilt first and the bib was an afterthought. The more you wash and dry a rag quilt, the more intense the raggedy exposed seams become - a good thing! The new mommy, Laurel, loved it. Her baby will be named Lyla. I love that name...it's my niece Robin's baby's name too.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIGWQDThX7mfAm1ub99gI8-SilNmmVYQTA_IxwQwuUHqIayXS5cBmFW9DqA-UmQBfIF8EeGlHp9pnFJWrQm8vYE6hm2mgxLzdUrjoxzB5gVf4GM-kqVhmXDPxO9Typi3x-aIjMlhzeO8/s1600/bib1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIGWQDThX7mfAm1ub99gI8-SilNmmVYQTA_IxwQwuUHqIayXS5cBmFW9DqA-UmQBfIF8EeGlHp9pnFJWrQm8vYE6hm2mgxLzdUrjoxzB5gVf4GM-kqVhmXDPxO9Typi3x-aIjMlhzeO8/s320/bib1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bib made with scraps leftover after I made the quilt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcmo9mq2VsZVJpLSrvE4MqSwHd3902usG3LvwQ0tyMsF8xcVi3r5NxQ4TdXSE0525sOkZexDfhdI2WGvnFww4NfbKhjuIAMwnfITUt8TzD6jAXHWATnL3j5PMZHhaYp5xm2d27c8Gg1I/s1600/IMG_2693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcmo9mq2VsZVJpLSrvE4MqSwHd3902usG3LvwQ0tyMsF8xcVi3r5NxQ4TdXSE0525sOkZexDfhdI2WGvnFww4NfbKhjuIAMwnfITUt8TzD6jAXHWATnL3j5PMZHhaYp5xm2d27c8Gg1I/s320/IMG_2693.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colors are more true here, but it's hard to tell it is a bib with the neck closed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e5UqZAIb4ySuhtUo3CKLs4xClQhwNxEYbdAqHnA35ls9suUayMuO2JtT7jVJaoe1hrHKxttQiW7Z0uIQVUjVmxq-bN18UcevpG8F18bNqyCFt0AveDiW_fClvfSh4_K1Y7YUDrd2UMk/s1600/quiltback.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e5UqZAIb4ySuhtUo3CKLs4xClQhwNxEYbdAqHnA35ls9suUayMuO2JtT7jVJaoe1hrHKxttQiW7Z0uIQVUjVmxq-bN18UcevpG8F18bNqyCFt0AveDiW_fClvfSh4_K1Y7YUDrd2UMk/s320/quiltback.jpeg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am holding it up showing the flannel backing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0ic_2y_5Ucli6pJ5FewLvXgTPQ3FIScQYYp1xe_J-qE7874RabmRlpJeqPVHsa6mOdPFj933izDKVeHL-67eAvlNPzeF3qOWauaSwHefmEOKhMmhUy9j2JXRWlZtRVvJbJeTPPnuCkk/s1600/quiltfront.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0ic_2y_5Ucli6pJ5FewLvXgTPQ3FIScQYYp1xe_J-qE7874RabmRlpJeqPVHsa6mOdPFj933izDKVeHL-67eAvlNPzeF3qOWauaSwHefmEOKhMmhUy9j2JXRWlZtRVvJbJeTPPnuCkk/s320/quiltfront.jpeg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front, a zillion little 1/4" scissor clips make the curly exposed seams.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuDu1XMZjHJcT1GCguP8rORfthxwEji6wSzgbaUX_5K1FEIvuZtEznE_tgNy-qCPg6wvgKCSfE8OKdSI567NvS0SMJBXeiAg5lhCb5KPVuzA3d5-cUV5DxkIHnP7VsCsHa-4XuIljJlQ/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuDu1XMZjHJcT1GCguP8rORfthxwEji6wSzgbaUX_5K1FEIvuZtEznE_tgNy-qCPg6wvgKCSfE8OKdSI567NvS0SMJBXeiAg5lhCb5KPVuzA3d5-cUV5DxkIHnP7VsCsHa-4XuIljJlQ/s320/IMG_2688.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">closeup of back</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAvS9fEFI4Ng1yKuuvyDhGoxbVV_ndva4_f8Yv6SqD93xvV9J4rmVnim9VfZb6UFIWYlFeeLRncKdBmDXh9A9YxsRfE4rsN4g-axY114vgN8WyM6OiD7Oyng1H7nAfHWU93qoe9cQNmc/s1600/IMG_2691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAvS9fEFI4Ng1yKuuvyDhGoxbVV_ndva4_f8Yv6SqD93xvV9J4rmVnim9VfZb6UFIWYlFeeLRncKdBmDXh9A9YxsRfE4rsN4g-axY114vgN8WyM6OiD7Oyng1H7nAfHWU93qoe9cQNmc/s320/IMG_2691.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">closeup of part of the front</td></tr>
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Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971917717637466367.post-10128822089120255422013-08-25T17:27:00.000-04:002013-08-25T17:28:30.343-04:00I'll Take Mine Medium-Rare!We had to put our old humongous gas grill out of its misery. It was getting rusty and slow.<br />
Check out the new one we just got for $199!<br />
<a href="http://www.charbroil.com/grills/gas-grills/char-broil-performance/char-broil-performance-t-22d-model-463270613.html">http://www.charbroil.com/grills/gas-grills/char-broil-performance/char-broil-performance-t-22d-model-463270613.html</a>Marty Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299946612759066132noreply@blogger.com0