Well New Year's Eve.  2013 is winding down at warp speed isn't it?  Today Steve and Jane are coming to make my home shiny sparkly clean.  

So what am I doing tonight you ask?  Well I am going to an "old people" New Year's Eve party.  The time is 6:00 - 9:00.  Yup, that's right, ends at 9:00.  Just my speed actually.  It's really just cocktails and finger foods and talking to people.  I can dig it.  

Yesterday I didn't get the car waxed, it rained in the morning and I said the heck with it for now.  Then around noon the sun came out so I said the heck with it again and went to the pool and stayed in an hour and a half.  I did the water jogging for an hour and just stayed in talking to people another half hour.  It was sunny and the water was warm and the temperature was 80°and that's just about as good as it gets.

When I finally came upstairs it was nearly 3:00 and I was starving so I made an omelette and had a lovely bath and was in my jammies by 4:30.  Yup.  Old people, I has it.

Have a lovely day and be safe if you go out tonight.  I'll be back tomorrow to wish you a Happy 2014.  Count on it!

So okay I saw this wooden cabinet with white drawers and I thought, why not?  So I did it.  Barb encouraged me.  A lot.  But I did it.  I just have to arrange what I am going to put on it now.  I just stuck a few things there so I could show you.  

Today I am OFF.  The calendar is empty!  I'd like to get the car waxed if it doesn't rain and swim but that's it.  If it does rain I'll wait a bit longer.  The day looms long and delicious ahead of me.  Retirement is divine.  

My bead gal pal gave me some beautiful beads for doing a favor for her and I am trying to get inspired again.  She does such beautiful work I feel guilty not beading now.

I got the suitcase out yesterday.  There is nothing in it but it is out.  Five days and counting.

Have a perfectly lovely day y'all.  I will too.  For sure.

Well it's Sunday so you know what that means, lunch with the duck and grocery shopping.  

I had a great day yesterday.  An outing with a friend and then it was warm enough for me to get in the pool afterwards.  Lovely day for sure.

There are LOTS of people here now and the condo is full of folks getting away from the cold but the pool was still quiet and that was nice.  My hallway smells like bacon every morning now. It does smell good too but I'm not making any.  Or eating any.  Or anything.  Rats.

Oh, last night I got a call from a nice gal pal on the left coast.  That was the end of a really nice day, getting to talk to someone special.

Guess that's all I have today.  Hope your Sunday is totally tits.  Mine will be for sure!

I saw something on Facebook yesterday that I liked.  It said "Be yourself.  Unless you are an a$$hole, then me someone else."  Well that, right there, says it all doesn't it?  I am having an issue with a friend right now that is upsetting me to no end but I'll deal with it and I'll get on with everything.  Sometimes people are just not who you think they are.  Sad but true I guess. 

Today I am going on an outing with a friend and not playing cards.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day it amazed even me.  I got to swim after the gym and then sit outside talking to lovely people and then I came up and did some chores and had a lovely day.

One week to cruise time!  It'll be really easy to pack because it's just the duck and me so we won't be doing anything too fancy.  Probably.  Eight days, one mid sized suitcase, that's me.

The weight loss ads have started on tv full force.  This happens every year.  They must be making money because they don't stop, do they?  And I just keep plugging along.  I did gain a few pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas but have lost them again.  

I finished my 10th session with Andre' yesterday so next week I have to pay again for 10 more.  I am really not as sore as I was at first and I am still working hard so it's all good.

So that's it from paradise for today y'all.  Have a lovely Saturday.  I will too.

So okay I did win my three dollars yesterday.  Since that's the only game I have this week I came out a winner and I'll take it.  

Today I am going to visit my torturer trainer and I hope it gets warm enough to swim afterwards but I doubt it.  Anyway I am hopeful.

Then I guess I'll take down the tree if Roche' will let me.  That boy sure does like it, he's slept under it every night that it's been up.  He just stares and sighs.

I almost had a joke to tell you today but I forgot it.  Note to self:  up the fish oil dose tomorrow.

Have a great Friday y'all.  You sure know I will!

I know, stop it, right?  But it's SO beautiful!  I just can't help myself.  And these are the last ones I'll show you.  Probably.  

Today is somewhat back to normal meaning I have lunch with some gal pals and canasta.  I hope I win big like maybe two bucks or something.  It's the only game I have this week so it's this one or nothing.

I hope y'all had a great day yesterday.  I did.  I had lots of phone calls from dear people in my life and a great dinner with the duck and we watched The Blues Brothers and then I came home and read a bit and did a pedi/mani so all my nails would be pretty.

You know several years ago Sarge and I learned that you really can take more than one vacation a year (thanks Dick and Sandy for that lesson) and now I want to pass it on to all of you.  If it's cold and nasty, well, get away from it for a bit.   I highly recommend coming here in case you are interested.  But one caution, you may not ever want to leave.  I don't.

Have a great day y'all.  I will too.

Merry Christmas!

Roche' got his tiara of course.

And his gift from Jane was a tuxedo!  

That boy is stylin'.

When I got home from the cemetery these

flowers were waiting for me from Princess Laura.

She's my piano bar gal pal.

And the duck gave me these lovely Armani sunglasses!

He's coming up in this world guys!

We had lunch here before we went to visit Sarge.  The three of us used to eat here on Christmas Eve for many years.  Oh, and our meal was comped too, nice!

Today I'll be at the Fern House and enjoying myself with the many people there.  Hope your day is fun filled and safe and beautiful.  Merry Christmas y'all!

Roche's presents are piling up. My decorator brought him one yesterday! He was so thrilled he was almost speechless. Almost.

So the cable vote yesterday ~ we voted yes with the contingency that we see the contract before final approval.

The pool was fabulous yesterday too but today is not supposed to get warm enough to get in. That's okay because I have Andre' at 11:00 so I'll get plenty of exercise.

There is no poker tonight because of it being Christmas Eve. None next week either. Then the following week I'll be on the cruise so no poker for me for three weeks.

Merry Christmas y'all. Hope your holiday is fabulous...

Yesterday was so beautiful I spent an hour and a half in the pool.  There were three of us in there and it was amazing.  I water jogged for an hour and just kicked around for another half hour.

Today I have a board meeting to vote on our cable company.  I guess you know we have Comcast and how much trouble I have had with it.  We are considering Hotwire communications now.  They will rewire the building with fiber optics and their rate included the telephone and internet with the cable.  

I'd love to change but it takes more than just our building.  They only come into communities with at least 500 units and our building has 114.  The complex, however, has many many more than that so it will depend on how the other buildings vote.  The wiring in these buildings is old and failing and Comcast is not at all interested in any upgrades.

Today is supposed to be the last day for a bit with over 80°temperatures so I want to spend as much time at the pool as I can.  Yesterday hit 85°- love that!

I got to talk to Paul yesterday.  He's such a hoot.  I hope someday we get to cruise together again.

So remember to take three deep breaths and then slowly smile when you feel stressed anytime, not just the holiday season.  It really does help.  Have a great day.  I know I will too!

So today is Sunday so that means lunch with the duck and then shopping for groceries and then the pool for me.  It is glorious here, the best weather in the entire world I think.  Christmas weather?  Not so much but it sure makes me a happy girl.

Hey I got called hot!  Now I don't believe it for a minute, I mean I am 67 years old but I'll admit it made me get back on my diet real strict and it did feel great.

I am thinking about a 2014 bucket list.  I don't currently have anything on it but I am thinking about one.  Is anyone else doing this?  I just can't think of anything to put on it.  I mean I have already done most of the stuff I want to do so maybe I'll do some volunteering stuff.  That might be fun.  I'll have to research it a bit.

Guess that's about all I know for today.  Have a wonderful Sunday.  I will too.

Gosh today has only one activity, well lunch and cards so I guess that's two but not bad.  Yesterday I had Andre' for 3/4 of an hour, then stretching, then the pool, then the barbecue and I was exhausted afterwards.  It was 8:30 at night when I finally got home.  The food was really good and I know I did eat too much but I saved calories and exercise calories so I was okay.  I even had a cookie - one.

There are many pretty Christmas lights here, well not too many in my development but in the area.  It reminds me of how much Sarge hated doing it, he liked to see other people's but not do it himself.  Well one year I was having a particularly rough time, my boss was dying of brain cancer and I was trying to hold the entire company together through it and I came home and he had put lights on my frangipani tree.  A frangipani tree is really only sticks with blooms on the end.  It looked like the leaning tower of piza with antlers.  I laughed so hard I just sat there and started crying.  It was such a sweet thing he tried to do to make me feel better.  Gosh I miss that guy.

Hope your day is lovely.  Mine too.

Well today feels like a day off.  I have Andre' at 11:00 and the pool after that and a barbecue at 6:00, only three activities today.  Last night I got to bed early and I can sleep in today so I'll be fine now.  Things are about to slow down too.  Thank goodness.  My weight is up a bit too.  I have to nip that in the bud.  And I will.  So many parties, so much good food, so much fun, sigh...

Five days until Christmas.  Only FIVE.  It comes so fast.

How is this for a five day forecast?  This is absolutely the best I could ask for and I did! Ha.  Anyway guess where I'll be in any free time I have.  You bet.  I need the exercise!

Have a great Friday.  I sure will too.

See I told you I lived in paradise and I really do.  Good morning.  This is what I look at if I wake up early enough in the morning.  Sometimes I do but usually I don't.  I don't know why.

Well did you see the season finale of Homeland?  I thought it was the worst ever.  I was so disappointed I may not even watch it when it starts up again.  Anyone else's thoughts?  And trust me, I am not usually negative but this stunk like a skunk.

I am tired.  I mean really bone tired.  I have had too many activities lately and I am really looking forward to next week with a much lighter schedule.  It seems so silly to wish for less parties but right now I do.  Too much food, to many hours, not enough rest.  I just reread this post up to this point and it sounds like I am "down", I'm not really, just tired.

Today is canasta and lunch at the club and after that I can go to bed early.  That'll get me going again.  I'll be as good as new in no time, watch and see.  And have a great day too!

I took this night before last as I was walking to the parking lot.  The sky was almost dark and the building next door was so pretty against it.  I think I truly live in paradise.

Well today is yet another party, they are piling up on me but I am keeping up nicely.  Last night I lost $62.00 in poker but had a great time and plan on winning today so I'll be even.

Yesterday Andre' kicked my butt but I kept up with him.  I am gaining muscles but not losing weight.  I intend to though so I shall keep going.  I will not give up.  I promise.  And my clothes are fitting differently too.

Guess that's all I know.  I should up the fish oil so I can think of more stuff.  Have a great day y'all.  I sure will too.

The Fern House Christmas Party

The "before" shot.

Everyone had a great time and the food was awesome!

And Santa had a huge bag of gifts for each child there.

So today is Andre' again and then poker with the holiday dinner first.  Then Wednesday my card game is having a holiday party.  Then Thursday is lunch with the gals before cards.  Then Friday is the club's barbecue dinner.  I think I may gain a few pounds this week but no fear, they WILL come right back off.  I promise!  I absolutely refuse to miss the parties and I also refuse to gain weight again.

Hope y'all have a totally wonderful Tuesday.  I will for sure!

Get this, Roche' decided (of course) to demand wish for workout clothes including a new headband so of course he got his way.  He also wanted more rhinestones so I was gluing them on for him and I burned my finger.  Guess what he said?  He called me a wuss.  Said it didn't hurt him.  Little bugger.  He gives me so much joy.

I never did get in the pool yesterday.  By the time I got home it was raining so I did my other things and got my shower and in my jammies instead.  

Today I have two (count them TWO) dental appointments with two different dentists.  In. One. Day.  What was I thinking?

Then tonight is the Christmas party at the Fern House.  They are expecting 200 people.  It is such a nice event, lots of toys for children from Santa and great food and lots of fun.  It's one of the things I love about that place.  Among many.

So that is my day in a nutshell, how's yours going?

Today is Sunday so that means lunch with the duck and shopping for groceries, then the pool and then a maj game downstairs at 4:00.  That's four things.  Too many.  Three is too many sometimes but four?  Yikes.  I'll try to keep up.

I won almost three bucks yesterday at canasta.  Yesterday Barb left a comment about Roche' wanting a personal trainer and a headband and sparkly gym shorts.  Well he read it and now he wants it.  Of course.  And he thinks Andre' is totally tits but Andre' has a girlfriend.  When I told Roche' that he went "blech" and wrinkled his little face.  Well as much as a rock can wrinkle his face that is.

Twenty days until cruise time.  It's just me and the duck.  D#1 can't go this time, she has to w-o-r-k.  You know, that four letter word.

And that's all I know today folks.  Hope your Sunday is wonderful, mine too...

So okay we are halfway through the 10 sessions, in fact this was just after number 6.  I can't see any difference but clothes are fitting differently a bit.  Anyway I asked Andre' what happens after the 10th one and he said you sign up for 10 more.  Oh.  Okay.

Then I went to the pool but it was too cold for me to get in.  That's okay because I got plenty of exercise already.

Then the welcome back party was a smash hit.  The food was great and I sat at a large table with all ladies and we had a very nice time.  One of the gals is 100.  Yes, you read that right, 100.  She still drives, lives alone, plays golf, has all her smarts, she is amazing.  

Today I have lunch with the ladies and canasta.  I don't have a single day without something on it for the rest of the year.  How in the world does anyone have time to work?  I have no idea.  Anyway I sure am glad I don't have to go any more.

Have a wonderful Saturday y'all.  I sure will too.

Yesterday the mail brought me a lovely bee pin to add to my collection from the lovely Lisa and her beautiful daughter.  Isn't it bee-u-tiful?  Made my day for sure.

Yesterday I did my hour in the pool and the water was warm and lovely but getting out was a challenge, it was 79°but windy so it felt cold getting out of warm water.  Anyway I did it and then it was time to get a quick shower and go to the board meeting.  We got the 2014 budget passed and the votes for the reserve fund in so it was a good meeting.  

There was, however, a woman there that was obnoxious and contentious.  In fact she was so awful she actually went up to one female board member and whispered in her ear telling her to go ---- herself!  You see she has a unit that she wants to rent and we have rental rules here and she doesn't like them.  Well they are not new and she knew them before she ever bought her unit.  Tough luck lady.  Soooo sorry. (not)  Anyway other than that it was fine.

Today will find me getting tortured toned by Andre' again and then hopefully it will be warm enough to swim.  It's going to be close.  Then at 5:30 the welcome back cocktail party is at the club so I am going to that.  Busy day here!

Have a lovely Friday y'all.  I sure know I will!

I don't know about you but I love Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music.  I have most of the cd's and listen to them every year.    

So yesterday we went to a new (?) restaurant before we played cards.  It's a new restaurant in an old location, the Ambassador Hotel in Palm Beach.  It was lovely, very pretty and a great valet service and the food and service were both very good.  I'd go back in a heartbeat.  I also won big which was a plus for sure.

Today I'm not playing cards because I have a board meeting at 3:00 and we don't finish until 5ish.  Sooooo, I'll just have to go to the pool until then.  

Then I am going out to dinner with a board member (the mayor of the pool) and his wife afterward.  There are lots of nice people around.

Now don't tell Roche' but I hear Santa might be bringing him a tiara.  He said he's always wanted one and dreams of having one.  I hope Santa doesn't disappoint him and make him toss a hissy fit.

Have a great day y'all.  I will too.

This photo was blatantly stolen from my beautiful granddaughter's facebook page.  Welcome home Matt, so glad you are home with her.  My granddog looks pretty happy too.

I lost $28.00 at poker last night but had a great time.  I liked that some players won that hadn't won in a bit so it evens things out.  It's really a nice group of people and we have played for some years now.

Today I am playing in a game in Palm Beach and we are having lunch at a new place first.  I am looking forward to it.

Thanks for all the comments yesterday after my "rant".  I don't usually complain but sometimes you just have to let off some steam.

Today is Prince Spaghetti, make it a good one.  I will too!