tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56367582860784750712024-03-13T22:22:56.551-07:00CRYSTAL CLEARORIGINAL ART AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE EYES AND MIND OF CRYSTAL HARRIS DONNELLYCrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-88655710032604500612021-03-01T08:31:00.002-08:002022-12-23T08:40:28.929-08:00How to survive rotator cuff surgery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mdglbekJAo/YD0UNcI4EoI/AAAAAAAAPhk/2cX3TS1tzvIPCeYlGvRJr4FK9ipxcgDvgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/rotator%2Bcuff%2Bsurgery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rotator cuff surgery" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mdglbekJAo/YD0UNcI4EoI/AAAAAAAAPhk/2cX3TS1tzvIPCeYlGvRJr4FK9ipxcgDvgCPcBGAYYCw/w240-h320/rotator%2Bcuff%2Bsurgery.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">So, after months of sleepless nights in which I rolled around in pain in just about any position, I decided to see a doctor.<span> </span>First of all, no doctor will schedule rotator cuff surgery right off the bat.<span> </span>It’s a process. There will be an MRI, physical therapy, and maybe even cortisone shots. After those things have been exhausted, the S word is spoken.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">At this point, you may begin asking around to see who has experienced this type of elective rotator cuff surgery.<span> </span>Heads up…there will be many.<span> </span>And they all say the same thing, “don’t do it.” Even so, however, all will still say that it worked, and they have a painless full range of movement.<span> </span>So why the horror stories? <span> </span>If they had the choice to do it again, would they?<span> </span>Well, no.<span> </span>Have I scared you yet?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">So, what follows is my ongoing experience.<span> </span>No doctor-ease explanations that are difficult to understand. So, here goes:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Prepare yourself.<span> </span>I thought I was prepared.<span> </span>I bought cute clothing that I thought would help with dressing while wearing a sling. Toss out both words, cute and sling.<span> </span>I went home from the hospital with one arm through a sleeve and a plastic size XX hospital shirt draped over my other half.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">The sling for rotator cuff surgery is in reality, a brace. It is a giant Velcro-laden torture device that would be at home in any medieval chamber of horrors.<span> </span>It held one’s arm with an added bulky pillow or bolster that made movement impossible.<span> </span>It had a belt that went around the waist and even had a little stress ball, although I think it was there to allow finger movement. Nothing, cute or otherwise would go over this brace. The Velcro is industrial strength and takes the strength of two men to adjust, move, or remove anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">So, I sent my husband on a hunt to find some XXX large clothing to replace the Xl shirt that had one arm through a sleeve while the other sleeve draped across my unclothed boob. And believe me, this device was scratchy, the Velcro pinched and rubbed and is not very kind to one’s skin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Lesson one, never send your husband on a hunt for something to wear in a situation like this. It is much better to be prepared in advance. <span> </span>I thought he would go to the large women’s area in a local department store and peruse the discount racks for large tops. <span> </span>Instead, he went to the men’s department where he felt most comfortable, and, brought back a t-shirt that with the addition of a couple poles would make a great pup tent. At least after a painful struggle to put the shirt on the Velcro was no longer rubbing my skin raw. It may have fallen below my knees and gathered a ton of excess fabric but at least it was on and a barrier against the unforgiving velcro.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Another thing that men just aren’t up for the task, is to comb hair that is not their own. This is especially true if they have waved goodbye to most personal head hair.<span> </span>As my husband raked a comb roughly through the knots, I relived the times as a child when my dad would be forced to comb my hair while I cried and complained. This time, however, the hair <i>had </i>to be combed and put up in a ponytail so that the strap on the brace didn’t constantly pull at it.<span> </span>This was a major challenge. His first try was a lopsided pony with half the hair down.<span> </span>Someone sent me a video of a dad using a vacuum cleaner to make a ponytail for his daughter, but I just couldn’t bring myself to suggest it to him.<span> </span>On the fifth try, he managed a droopy, sloppy pony that did the job, although I looked pretty ridiculous. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Then, it came to my lower half. The brace and the pain make it very, very difficult to pull up one’s pants.<span> </span>So be prepared with loose pull-on lounge pants and granny panties. Forget jeans.<span> </span>Don’t believe me?<span> </span>Try pulling up your pants with one hand and don’t use your dominant hand, I’ll wait.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">At this point If you are like me, you didn’t sleep comfortably for months.<span> </span>Get ready because you are not going to sleep any better now.<span> </span>You must sleep with this cumbersome contraption you are locked into.<span> </span>Recliners are nice and suggested, but to me, they are only good for a cat nap here and there.<span> </span>And you will so ache to move around and sleep in a bed.<span> </span>Some people, and you know who they are can sleep anywhere.<span> </span>They sleep upright on planes and nod off at a desk. I can’t do it. So, since I have an adjustable bed, I raised it.<span> </span>Sounded good until I realized I couldn’t get under the covers with the brace on. I tried sleeping on top of the comforter but kept slipping down.<span> </span>A light coverlet is all that would work with the bed only slightly raised. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">I slept very little, you see, I am a side sleeper and the only way you can sleep is on your back. Adjustments need to occur in the form of a sleeping pill that only semi work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">It’s been two weeks since the surgery and things have gotten a little better.<span> </span>I can comb my own hair. I can put on my clothes with minimal pain. <span> </span>I cannot raise my arm above my elbow. The doctor did allow me to remove the torture device, first the pillow, then the entire brace.<span> </span>It still hurts when I move certain ways and I still don’t sleep well. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">So, this is a list of things you should prepare for:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: white;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span> </span>Get some extra-large stretchy clothing, short sleeves, and preferably that button in the front.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: white;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span> </span>If you have long hair teach your husband in advance how to tie a ponytail </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: white;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Make some healthy dinners before the surgery and freeze them for when you can’t do anything but re-heat unless your husband is a four-star chef. In my case, it isn't much better than eating beans out of a can<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Make sure you have some stretchy pull-on lounge pants and larger than your size undies, forget about a bra for a while.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: white;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>For going outside in the cold invest in a poncho, or cape that you can throw over everything. No, a puffy vest won’t work.<span> </span>Just ask the new one hanging in my closet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: white;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Stock up on ibuprofen especially if you are like me and cannot take anything stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: white;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Get an ice bag.</span></p><p><span style="color: white;"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: white;">I start physical therapy next week, hopefully, that will alleviate the pain and allow me to sleep comfortably. Stay tuned for updates. If someone asks me would have rotator cuff surgery again? The answer would be No, but then again it depends upon whether I eventually get the full range of movement back with no pain. Then the question becomes would you do it if your choice is to live with pain when you sleep forever, or much worse pain that eventually goes away? Then my answer is Yes, in a heartbeat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-89733144509968765282021-02-05T09:58:00.003-08:002021-02-05T09:58:37.591-08:00Winter of 2021 blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tuJPfUdpeY/YB2G7YqxP1I/AAAAAAAAPgY/5To419RTuugf9-1kjfv9En1eAXuLavjPwCPcBGAsYHg/s800/DSCN0071-SNOW.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tuJPfUdpeY/YB2G7YqxP1I/AAAAAAAAPgY/5To419RTuugf9-1kjfv9En1eAXuLavjPwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/DSCN0071-SNOW.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Normally, I write humorous pieces. This time, however, it will be a bit more somber. 2020 has been a very trying year for so many people. Politics, pandemic, poverty, closures, and more have changed many people into different versions of themselves. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then there are those who leave us forever. The chance to say goodbye at a funeral is gone. My story is about a good man. A man who was always laughing, smiling no matter where or when. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I first met Fred and his wife when I was a young widow. They lived next door to Vincent, the widower who would become my husband. On one of our first dates, we attended their annual Christmas party. They welcomed me with open arms, and that night, at a party full of laughing guests, on a tattered old love seat I fell in love. The next year we attended the Christmas party as a married couple.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Every year after that one we would attend that same Christmas party, on that same first Saturday in December, and sit on that same love seat. Oh, we’d sometimes complain about the games of word search and how many M & M’s were in the jar. I’d joke that it seemed more like school. Then it was time for the gift game. Vincent and I each brought a gift that became a </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">game of stealing and keeping. More times than not I ended up with another item to put in my goodwill box. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Through it all, Fred always led the party. He enjoyed talking to everyone and especially being an emcee for the games. When all the others went to their home and families, decorations, and gift wrapping, we stayed to catch up. The kids were growing up. This one was graduating, that one got married. The pet they had was no longer with them. We were always the last to leave. And as we left it was always, see you same time next year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The years passed. The parties changed guests, the baby next door became a toddler, and then a young lady. But we always stayed and caught up with our lives after all the others had left. And Fred always wanted to discuss my latest blog post. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You see, Fred was my biggest fan. He would laughingly talk to me about my newest story. And if I hadn’t posted he would encourage me to write some more. Time and life whizzed by and my blog took a back seat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then, two years ago, Fred and his wife stopped the parties due to a family illness. The only connection I had was through occasional emails. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Yesterday, we got a phone call that Fred had passed on. I can close my eyes and still see his jovial smiling face as he handed out word search papers for his games. It couldn’t be that so lively and vivacious a person would be gone from this world. There would be no funeral, no memorial in a pandemic world. So, this is my memorial to Fred. I will remember his love for life. I will remember his steadfast adoration of his wife. I will remember his joy and vivre. And if there is a heaven, he is acting emcee and handing out word search papers. And I know he will be reading this post and laughing. <o:p></o:p></p>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-85658435368569484332020-11-30T07:23:00.003-08:002020-11-30T18:34:53.662-08:00The trials and tribulations of 2020 and lucky black-eyed peas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uxojPLrWYE/X8UOWA6tBaI/AAAAAAAAPcI/z36o-jfYCeox2tamxBtM7Lwndj8WYaiZgCPcBGAsYHg/s4000/P1030711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uxojPLrWYE/X8UOWA6tBaI/AAAAAAAAPcI/z36o-jfYCeox2tamxBtM7Lwndj8WYaiZgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/P1030711.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So, I haven’t updated this blog much lately. Guess I’ve just been super busy being depressed and quarantined. It's not all been lounging in pajamas and sleeping late, however. I have been working with <a href="https://www.bowdabrablog.com">Bowdabra blog</a> as well as <a href="https://www.makeiteasycrafts.com">Make it easy crafts </a>blog and there just isn’t enough time in the day. I really do not understand it, but even though I have nowhere to go and the days seem endless, I never seem to get anything done! Perhaps it is the time change where it’s dark at 5:00 P.M. Or more than likely, the real reason is that when the days all seem to blend together and I feel like it's a scene from "Groundhog Day", it is hard to rev up my ambition. I've never before asked my husband so many times, "Is today Wednesday or Thursday?" <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Now that Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas is on the horizon how are those decorations going? If you are like me, it is a little bit here and even less there. In the past I was like Clark Griswald from "Christmas vacation", going overboard with three trees and a multitude of decorations. Now, I’m more like the Grinch, just hoping the holiday would pass quickly and quietly. Why the big change?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Well, the world has changed. So many restrictions and so many fears. Solitude while once sought after for a moment or two has become the norm. Ok, so I’m not totally alone. I do have my husband and even though he is the easiest man to get along with, spending this much time together is a bit challenging. I get cranky. He gets cranky. It can only go downhill from there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And then, there is streaming. We’ve streamed everything that is worth watching and now all that remains are some dubbed in B movies and dopey Christmas romances. I'm just not into the bad acting and hokey stories. I've suffered through the Christmas prince meets the Christmas pauper one too many times. Even the holiday music is annoying. Not in the mood for a holiday tale? Ask yourself, how many times can they make a movie out of a giant, people eating sandworm?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I've never been one to binge-watch, but this year I’ve binged entire seasons of old TV shows in one day. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I have a new studio and I cannot get the inspiration to paint. It used to be I would relish an extra hour or so to paint and now I have endless hours and yet I can’t manage that first brush stroke.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And while we are talking, what’s up with the mail. I went to order a Christmas present for my husband in November and even though they charged quite a bit for shipping, it wouldn’t get there before Christmas. Nope, no gift arriving before January, that is, unless one will fork over another $15, $20, $30 extra fees depending upon when you want it to arrive. So Cyber-Monday is deceptive unless you want to spend $50 for that personalized “totally free and only pay shipping” coffee mug.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Shop local…love to, if I only didn’t have to wear a mask. I am unlucky enough to have suffered my entire life with asthma. Covering my mouth and nose causes an anxiety-induced asthma attack and I must leave the store within five minutes. Ever try to leisurely shop while you are suffocating?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When the clock struck 12 a.m. on Jan 1, 2020, I was in bed with the flu or something similar that took me 3 weeks to get over. So, I didn’t cook my usual lucky black-eyed peas and rice like I have done every year in the past. I think that was the reason the year 2020 was so difficult. I jinxed it. This January 1, 2021, come hell or high water I am getting out the black-eyed peas and cooking up a double batch. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-68971107399879203752018-11-17T11:47:00.001-08:002018-11-17T11:50:05.124-08:00Where is the bacon? Musings from my vacation in Ireland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">I just returned from my vacation in Ireland or as the Irish would say, my holiday. I truly enjoy traveling the new places. I love trying the regional dishes. As unusual they sometimes seem at first, I simply say, "when in Rome, do as the Romans, do." Or, perhaps a more accurate statement would be, </span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">I will try anything... once.</span><span style="font-family: "ms 明朝"; font-size: 14pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">My husband, on the other hand, tiptoes around anything new. I have to give him credit, however, because if I tease him enough he will even take a tiny taste of say, black pudding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Black and white puddings are pretty popular in Ireland. What, you may ask, are black and white puddings? To the American ear, the word pudding brings to mind, sweet and creamy desserts like chocolate or banana, or even tapioca. (Seriously, if we are talking about weird dishes here, what the heck is tapioca anyway?) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">But I digress. White and black puddings are a type of breakfast sausage. The white consists of sausage meats, seasonings, and some types of grain, like oatmeal. The black sausage is a blood sausage. Yup, that'</span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">s what I said. It has the same ingredients as the white pudding with the addition of blood. So the white pudding tastes like a mildly seasoned and less greasy pork sausage patty. The black pudding tastes very similar, but the thought of cooked blood is hard to get out of your head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">White and black puddings are on all the breakfast menus in Ireland, as are baked beans. What? Did I really say baked beans, the staple of all American backyard cookouts? Well, yes, I did. Baked beans like the kind you sometimes got out of a can when you had hot dogs are a staple of the Irish breakfast. It'</span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">s as common a side dish as hash browns are in American breakfasts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Not being a bean eater even with hot dogs, I avoided the stuff which husband dear ate eagerly. Guess he had a lot of hot dogs as a kid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">The oddest thing, I think, was the lack of bacon. It wasn'</span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">t a total surprise since I’d already experienced that omission in Greece. Order a bacon cheeseburger in Greece and your burger will not be topped with a crispy strip of smoky goodness, but a big honking slice of ham.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ireland it seems feels the same way about bacon. Yes, breakfast menus listed, juicy bacon as a side but you soon discover it is, again, ham. You get used to it, however, so when you see the word bacon you are not as surprised. What is it Shakespeare said?</span><span style="font-family: "ms 明朝"; font-size: 14pt;">“A</span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> rose by any other name would smell as sweet.</span><span style="font-family: "ms 明朝"; font-size: 14pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> I think old Will was talking about bacon here. And actually, ham is a lot healthier than bacon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">I didn'</span><span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">t go into McDonald's although they are all over the place so I cannot vouch for whether or not Micky Dees, is on board with the bacon/ham debate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">The food, all in all, was fantastic. Everything, fresh and tasty and served with a pint of Guinness. Shoot, they use Guinness in everything, stew, tarts, and soups. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Next post, castles, blarney stone and more fun things from the emerald isle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-29773863737817613862018-03-10T08:23:00.000-08:002018-03-10T08:23:47.859-08:00Why do we even have Daylight savings time and what does it really save?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JE4LC3T1iDs/WqQGDcVWN7I/AAAAAAAAO3s/Mq84rm0jjF4zMutwFMQcXdCg46tQxAUhACKgBGAs/s1600/P1010779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Daylight savings time" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1246" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JE4LC3T1iDs/WqQGDcVWN7I/AAAAAAAAO3s/Mq84rm0jjF4zMutwFMQcXdCg46tQxAUhACKgBGAs/s320/P1010779.JPG" title="" width="249" /></a></div>
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Honestly, this weekend will be rough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the weekend where we turn the clocks forward an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supposedly it is supposed to save daylight, but seriously there is plenty of research to prove that it saves nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reality, it causes many, many issues from more heart attacks to car accidents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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People are walking around in a stupor for at least a few weeks afterward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a perfect world, the clocks will just stay where they are spring and fall. Why do we feel the need to readjust them twice a year?<o:p></o:p></div>
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You may think that I am just saying this because I am getting set to lose an hour of my time. You would be, however, wrong. I don’t do well even in the fall when we move the clocks the other direction. I am losing more than time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My internal clock cannot just be rewound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be on its own setting for quite some time before it bends to the government’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blame the circadian rhythm if you will.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So this weekend, while my body is thinking it’s 11 O’clock, my usual bedtime it won’t really be 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it will be midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, the next morning, when my body will try and rise at 7:00 a.m., I will discover that it is an hour later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I will rush and consume obscene amounts of coffee in an effort to remove the fog that descends upon me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no, it won’t help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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And since the first clock change in 1918 the powers that be are not happy with one time or date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that they’ve moved the dates later in the fall and earlier in the spring several times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty soon, if we are lucky the two will meet and then, voila! We will have the clocks stay the same for all 12 months!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can only hope.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-24096404491189305152018-02-28T09:19:00.000-08:002018-02-28T09:19:28.639-08:005 reasons why GPS is a pain in the local driver's side<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BWKLDR9xEk/WpbjL17RwiI/AAAAAAAAO2E/H6_s6aLUBGclByVetyVtiIbXAFAlr-1NgCKgBGAs/s1600/P1020555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GPS" border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BWKLDR9xEk/WpbjL17RwiI/AAAAAAAAO2E/H6_s6aLUBGclByVetyVtiIbXAFAlr-1NgCKgBGAs/s320/P1020555.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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Year’s ago traffic was light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my small community, you could get from point A to point B in a flash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Traffic lights were minimal and short in duration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, development came and swiftly turned this small community into a traffic nightmare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And GPS became the largest pain in the local driver’s side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Why this venom spewing at innocent old GPS?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, seriously why this hatred? Sure, sometimes navigating Nancy may take you to a stranger’s front door instead of the football stadium you were looking for. And maybe she may tell you to turn the wrong way on a one-way street, but all in all, she’s got her act together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again…when it comes to the local driver here are the top 5 reasons why I have come to really detest Nancy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->She knows where the traffic is worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she will take you on a wild ride just to work around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the back roads and little detours that local people had up their sleeves when traffic is in a snarl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take that advantage away and people who live hundreds of miles from the area can take those same routes, and leave the poor local driver SOL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who are unfamiliar with this acronym…it means S*** out of luck.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The non-local people who are taking these alternate routes are unfamiliar with these rocky, bumpy, and sometimes unpaved road snags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that chasm in that charming little back road that has been there since last winter envelops the unsuspecting automobile whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus snarling traffic further.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->GPS is only as good as the information it receives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it doesn’t get updates so when a road changes from regular to a toll road. Nancy just doesn’t know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drivers that are unfamiliar may not be prepared to fork out a toll. In the greater Washington D.C., area…tolls can be quite frightening!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So unable to pay the fee, they may just blaze through. And then, a mile down the road they sit on the shoulder with blue lights flashing behind them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does that affect the other drivers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, rubbernecking is a famous interstate highway sport and has a way causing a backup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The result is a</span> domino effect in a way with some resulting fender benders.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So there you have it, my five reasons why GPS is a pain in the local driver’s side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The roaming traveler doesn’t get off Scott free, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they are bopping along that back road they may be unaccustomed to the wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A deer may put an end to their trip as it bounces off their car’s hood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or they may discover that running over a skunk, even a dead one, will infiltrate their car with its delightful scent for months after their meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until that is, navigating Nancy comes up with a way of circumventing wildlife.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-30244322244501645652017-12-02T08:52:00.000-08:002017-12-02T09:04:18.545-08:00Are you hanging Christmas vacation style lights, or are you laser lazy?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUvPbVXLGsc/WiLZpG9UY7I/AAAAAAAAOmE/tTMz7t86cgQnsu-BZ4rlJZ-6VS1qu-fEwCLcBGAs/s1600/12346602_10207237765775138_4075425948406790416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="laser lazy" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUvPbVXLGsc/WiLZpG9UY7I/AAAAAAAAOmE/tTMz7t86cgQnsu-BZ4rlJZ-6VS1qu-fEwCLcBGAs/s320/12346602_10207237765775138_4075425948406790416_n.jpg" title="Blue light fiasco" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue light fiasco</td></tr>
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A few years ago as my husband was putting up Christmas decorations, he slipped and fell off the roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He broke his wrist, on one hand, his thumb on the other, had a hematoma in his leg and a concussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds bad, and it was. It took several months of recovery, but he was extremely lucky he made it out of that mess alive!<o:p></o:p></div>
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So the following Christmas I went on a hunt for a way to decorate our home for Christmas without pulling out the now taboo ladder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I cruised around looking for ideas I noticed several houses that had tiny lights covering the entire front. After a little investigation, I learned they were laser projection lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had found the answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That year, however, was the first year of laser light introduction and they were as rare as hen’s teeth unless you shopped for Christmas decorations in July. So I spent hours looking in stores. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that didn’t pan out I took to the Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was soon to discover that during that first year, laser lights will go down in history with the cabbage patch kids and beanie babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yeah, you could get them on eBay if you were willing to pay ten times its retail value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you went to a legitimate store, you could wait for months and by then you were thinking about sipping a Mai Tai by the pool.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn’t give up though and I found these large globe light strings with blue light projection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought, why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You still had to string them up but at least you could hang them on the lower level porch and aim the projection towards the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband used a chair to hang them, which in my estimation was even less safe than a ladder, but at least it was only three feet off the ground. He got them up without further injury unless you count a sore thumb from poor aim with a wayward tack hammer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So the on the night of the unveiling, I was a little disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, our house resembled a fish tank or a swimming pool with the dizzying projected blue moving lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the Christmas feeling I was searching for. So, after Christmas, they landed in our basement of lost lights.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Next year, I was better prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as the stores started putting out Christmas items I was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, it was August but the early bird gets the worm, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I found laser lights that had an enormous repertoire of light shows, red, green, blue, white, you name it. I was beyond excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like Jonas Salk must have felt when he discovered the first vaccine for Polio. It was an elation that would soon evaporate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When we opened the box, the enormous round plastic globe looked cheap but convincing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we put it in the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No ladder, no chair, no injury, but also no good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lights were large blurry, moved erratically. The cheap plastic remote was confusing but we kept it because, again when the actual Christmas season came around, there weren’t any other choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We used it that year in moderation because I still didn't care for it. </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
And this year, when we hooked it up, the remote wouldn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I r</span>eplaced the batteries, checked the connections, and it still didn't work. And then I threw it at the wall and it shattered into a million pieces. File that under Crystal's epic fails. Unfortunately, there was no manual operation for it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fast forward to this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went out and found a laser light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on sale!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they a ton of them on display! And this one does everything that I ever wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has tiny stars that cover the entire house. It has images that project as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It moves or stays still, however you choose. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s metal, not plastic and for now, it’s perfect.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Until next year…when the next new thing appears on the horizon!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-71766470535326149152017-11-26T10:11:00.001-08:002017-11-26T10:12:26.799-08:00Are you pitching a tent for the Black Friday sales or are you sitting on the computer on Cyber Monday?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JoQTL5KSRio/VKN-o5byk-I/AAAAAAAAKn4/9H-caGW7GZULnhCfmbE1G8MYkJyKMii5ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1110123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="black friday" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JoQTL5KSRio/VKN-o5byk-I/AAAAAAAAKn4/9H-caGW7GZULnhCfmbE1G8MYkJyKMii5ACPcBGAYYCw/s320/P1110123.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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Black Thursday, Black Friday, Small business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are all names intent on removing money from wallets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is my issue, however, they weren’t happy just focusing on Friday with lines wrapped around the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to take away Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the lines start on Thanksgiving Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They pitch tents and bring chairs and sit in the frigid cold. And for what, a flat-screen TV or the latest gaming system?<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Material-itis” is what I call it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the need for material things over any other needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And are you truly honest with yourself? How much are you really paying for that 55-inch TV? Time is money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not realize it but you are working for an object as you sit and sleep on the sidewalk in the cold. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I was a kid, we got one gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t extravagant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t take three months of salary to pay for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t make lists that contained things that were hard to obtain. Parents didn’t have to fight unscrupulous people who sit in lines to buy hard to get items so they can sell it for 10 times as much on eBay. Whatever we got we appreciated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t get multiple gifts either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One person, one gift that was the way it was.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whose birthday is it anyway?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not yours, it’s not mine, and it’s not theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who should really be getting the gifts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if he were to say what he really wanted, it wouldn’t be a material thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think he would want a 60- inch flat screen TV, of course not? It would be easy to get him a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would want you to be kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would want you to give to someone less fortunate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be to buy something for a stranger without expecting anything in return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly he would want you to spread love, and love doesn’t cost a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can spread the love on Black, purple, or any color or day of the week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So for those who are pitching those tents for Material gains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who will push and shove and cut through lines for TV’s and more I say you are missing out on the true feeling and meaning of Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are putting greed in your hearts instead of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it will continue until you realize that one day those TV’s you worked so hard to get will be sitting in a landfill with all the other material things you once valued above all else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So this Christmas, I hope you are like me and steer clear of the sales that are nothing but a way to get you in a store, but if you do venture out, spread some love. Make someone’s day a little brighter even if it’s only because you smiled at him or her. And then you will see what Christmas means to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-64327983392188108222017-11-20T07:33:00.000-08:002017-11-20T07:33:12.700-08:00What is wrong with Instant gratification anyway?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KN6r6RDzLrg/Uewr3dlaUAI/AAAAAAAAGuU/ZSh_bW8aj3UpiHIdyj86grYCNtB7ivA_QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1070496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1590" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KN6r6RDzLrg/Uewr3dlaUAI/AAAAAAAAGuU/ZSh_bW8aj3UpiHIdyj86grYCNtB7ivA_QCPcBGAYYCw/s320/P1070496.JPG" width="318" /></a></div>
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All hail The instant gratification generation!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lately, with Christmas looming, I’ve been wondering what to buy for family members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the Christmas songs make it sound easy and fairly inexpensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, isn’t a personal handmade gift something to be treasured?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry to say this is not so for the instant gratification generation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Instant gratification, so what does that mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, when a young adult sees a material thing they desire, whether it be a car, television set, expensive handbag or shoes, they buy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no waiting for the right time, a holiday, birthday or event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want it; they get it, right there and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they cannot afford it there are always deferred payments, sales, and plastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, if they wait they may lose out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Don’t get me wrong, we, the parents are responsible for this trend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve told them from the time they could walk that they deserve the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve supported bad decisions, and helped them out of a debt countless times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, they are adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know the consequences, or do they?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The dangers of instant gratification are many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High-interest rates, bad credit ratings, and money spent on impulse, when it could be used for more important things like rent and food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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And what does this generation do when they become parents themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can no longer give in to the instant gratification to which they have grown accustomed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must sacrifice for their progeny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must become us, giving until there is nothing left to give.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember when I was a young mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter was on top of the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever she needed came first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore my clothes till they were out of style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove a used car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cooked dinners because restaurants were out of the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I paid my bills on time and my credit was immaculate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When my mother raised my three siblings and myself, she deprived herself of anything frivolous. If there was one piece of pie left, she cut it into four pieces and left none for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I believe that if there was a drought that woman would have died of thirst before she let us go without.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am afraid for the instant gratification generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, their parents will not walk this earth forever and one day they will have to depend upon only themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will have to sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that any new mother will teach their children unselfishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that new mothers will sacrifice only when necessary and teach their children that instant gratification is not always possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Unfortunately, as we age, we learn. Maybe we learn too late.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am afraid for the children of today. Every time I enter a store there are always children crying and demanding their parents give in to their demands. And they do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, my friends, is instant gratification in its infancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we only have ourselves to blame.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-78740610862511763272017-10-26T07:22:00.001-07:002017-10-30T20:27:49.290-07:00Lemon, lime, or cucumber, which is the best fruit in your water?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">I have to admit I drink a lot of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just not into sodas and other sugary drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water, however, can be a bit bland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’ve always opted for a few lemon wedges in my water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you like lemon, lime, or is it cucumber in your water, or do you just drink it straight from the tap?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">First of all, let’s clear up one thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love lemon in my water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lemons have one drawback though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are full of seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sit there and try and dig the seeds out before I put it in my water but I always miss a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">These errant seeds fall to the bottom of the glass and sit there waiting for the straw to reach them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then as I try to get a drink, I suck the seed into the straw, blocking any actual water from reaching my parched lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">So now I have a straw with a stuck seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s a girl to do but take the straw out and blow into the straw trying to dislodge the seed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, making the straw with the seed similar to a native blowgun. I sit there trying to look innocent while my poor husband almost loses an eye from the flying seed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">So I get an epiphany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Limes, which are a citrus fruit similar to lemons, do not have seeds. Don’t ask me why or how they grow more limes, but they don’t have them. Botany is not my forte, but it has something to with not needing to pollinate to grow fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for how one makes more lime babies, you will just have to look it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">I realize that restaurants that have bars usually have an ample supply of lime wedges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So at those establishments, I always ask for limes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admit I get a few questioning looks as if they didn’t hear me correctly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes they bring me lemons anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At those moments I just revert to trying to seed the darned things. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I try and warn my husband of incoming projectiles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">Now, we finally come the question of the third fruit, Yes, it is technically a fruit. I am referring to the cucumber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some spas and fancy establishments are big on adding cucumbers to their water. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say it detoxifies the body. There are other benefits as well, but aside from that, to me, it just tastes weird, not horrible, just weird.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15.0pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: 15.0pt;">I offered my husband a glass of cucumber water from a hotel once. He sipped, he gagged, and then he watered a potted plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a taste, I believe, one has to acquire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 15.0pt;">So what is your preference, lemons, limes, cucumbers, or just plain H20?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-8056410284639801052017-10-03T09:13:00.000-07:002017-10-03T09:13:24.089-07:00Is a fun cruise in your future? Read this first<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPWbvbgNVME/WcvjN7De1jI/AAAAAAAAOaQ/QriTJsMqq_kaKIuLmE1htkQyW0AVNJw8gCLcBGAs/s1600/Vista%2Bhalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPWbvbgNVME/WcvjN7De1jI/AAAAAAAAOaQ/QriTJsMqq_kaKIuLmE1htkQyW0AVNJw8gCLcBGAs/s320/Vista%2Bhalls.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Endless hallways</td></tr>
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When I was a kid, our family had a Vista Cruiser station wagon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t really like that land yacht but it did fit everyone in the family in that car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am thinking it was kind of prophetic that I should be on the Carnival Vista, their largest at the moment ship, cruising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not expert but I can tell you a few things about Carnival cruising since I’ve been on several of them on various sized vessels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carnival seems to be channeling “Jaws,” thinking they need bigger and bigger boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to burst their bubble but bigger is not a plus on a cruise ship. I guess you have to think like their executives, however, the more people they can squeeze on a boat, the more money they make.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Size, it seems matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been on smaller boats and had a great time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to see and do a lot on the smaller ships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw shows, ate, drank, and played in the casino.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the Vista, we didn’t do much of that at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never got into one comedy show and the only variety show we were able to get into, we had a great view of a very shiny pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Vista holds about 4,000 passengers and lines are as long as the football field length hallways.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So don’t be surprised if the last day of the cruise arrives and you have yet to experience the fun they are always touting, unless, of course, you consider waiting in lines fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are infinite lines, lines, everywhere lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shows that you can actually get into are basically glorified infomercials, selling something.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And if you are a repeat cruiser and have been there, done that excursion, don’t bother staying on the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be nothing to do, unless you want to get in the pool. And honestly, it is the best time to get in the pool since it won’t be crowded. If you want to spend some money you can always visit the spa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When it comes to food, be prepared for yet again endless lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you like the buffets you may not be able to see the end of the line without a pair of binoculars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, at breakfast, we waited in line while people behind poked us with the tough like plates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we finally got our food we had to walk around holding the plate till we found a place to park it before dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately for me, I never cared for buffets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The restaurant is a better bet as long as you can make it by their hours of operation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On port days, better not sleep in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, as we all know there is a lot of drinking on these boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t call them fun ships for nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bathrooms are kind of wonky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may find the ladies room and think that the men’s room would be in pretty much the same vicinity, but you are wrong. I came across many a man confused, and bewildered, wandering around looking for the men’s room. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When the boat is at sea the pools as so full of people you may need a crowbar to shimmy yourself a spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t a kiddie pool anywhere that I know of so kids were jumping and splashing into a crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve yet to see anyone leave their drinks on the trays around the pool to find a bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with all that drinking…see where I’m going here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m kind of wondering if getting in that pool isn’t that different from sitting in a giant toilet bowl.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When you are a repeat cruiser they supposedly give you extra benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I’ve been on six cruises, they gave us two free bottles of water and a drink coupon on the last day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> September is my birthday month and on my last cruise with my birthday two weeks away, they gave me a $50 certificate to the spa and a bottle of wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, same time, different boat, yup, you guessed it I got Zippo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t’ mean the lighter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, I don’t want to sound like a total negative Nancy buzz kill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some pluses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aren’t there always a few pluses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say it was easier to get on the boat this time, without so much red tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The photos are no longer posted willy-nilly on bulletin boards but digitally presented on large screens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you can find it easily with a touch of a button in the photo section or on your cell phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that certainly saves paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you did your part for the environment by saving a few trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can do a lot on your cell phone, buy photos, order excursions and see what is going on at any specific moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They have a pretty nice IMAX theater on board showing current movies, for an additional fee of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want popcorn, however, you will be eating it out of a prepackaged little bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No popcorn smell to entice you and make you feel like you are really in a theater.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The food is much better on this boat than some of the boats I’ve been on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, on my first cruise several years ago the food was awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it kind of went mediocre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it’s pretty awesome again in the restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s it for the pluses…Technology may have helped to get all the people on the boat easily, but leaving is quite another story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chaos is too kind a word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stood on a stairwell for quite some time inching along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that Carnival while getting 4,000 people off the boat are also in the process of loading 4,000 people on for the next cruise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels kind of like, “hey we got your money, now get off.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were thankful that we didn’t check our luggage but hand carried because after waiting in this endless line we were herded into a big warehouse where the luggage was laying everywhere akin to a giant Easter egg hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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To sum it all up, Carnival needs to get back to what made them fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need to re-visit the little things that made people feel special and kept them re-booking new cruises. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the large boats, they need to have more shows and things to do so that everyone and not just those who stand in line an hour before, can participate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If there are inches between people in the pools and one has to shimmy into the water, maybe, just maybe, they need more pools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carnival is boasting that they are ready to unveil even larger boats than the Vista next year. McDonald's<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>nalds canceled the supersize and I think that Carnival should consider following suit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again more people, means more money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still think that cruises are great value for a vacation, but should I cruise again, it will be only on the smaller boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think 6 cruises behind me it may be the time to try a different cruise line. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-7948635979422977762017-09-04T13:03:00.005-07:002017-09-04T13:07:27.929-07:00Are flea markets and thrift stores, deal or no good deal?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's almost Fall. And people are flocking to the malls and discount department stores for school clothes and supplies, I wonder how many are going the alternate route and shopping at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> On crisp fall days, it's fun to plan some family outings and Flea markets and bazaars are much cooler than the dog days of summer. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s hard for a family these days to make ends meet especially and when you have kids that grow out of their clothing in practically minutes, so many people are turning to thrift shops and other budget friendly places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is it really a deal?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flea markets are often full of professional fleamarketeers that sell low quality new items for what seems like a great deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great deal until you take off your shoes and the socks you bought are hanging on by a thread, literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or when you washed your favorite team T-shirt and it turned every other piece of clothing you own a dingy shade of puce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, puce is a color. The dictionary defines puce as a dark, brownish, purple hue. Now doesn't that sound delightful?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The new toothbrush you bought broke in half while brushing your teeth. And, the super deal 79 cents Crest toothpaste turned out to be Crost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess you didn’t notice there was an “o” where the “e” should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further examination reveals that it is made not in the USA but a country whose name you can’t even pronounce.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And everywhere you look there is glassware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Broken, chipped, and dusty. Turn a lane and there are appliances of every kind that may or may not work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$2.00 for a Nutrabullet, it’s worth a gamble, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what you told yourself before your kitchen walls turned out to be covered in blueberry pulp.<br />
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And the upholstered ottoman that looked so elegant doesn’t seem like such a great deal when the fleas start to hatch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Don’t get me wrong there are super deals to be had at flea markets, thrift stores, and yard sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You just have to be careful. </span>Let me close with just a few words of caution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know your prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know your items and what you are looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as the old saying goes, “let the buyer beware.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Check out all the others posts at the bottom of each new post on <a href="http://charrisart.blogspot.com/">Crystal clear blog.</a> And please leave a comment. I'd love to hear your adventures in thrifting too!</div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-92157900570621774952017-08-02T09:11:00.000-07:002017-08-02T09:21:16.925-07:0010 easy travel tips to better enjoy a Greek vacation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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10 tips to enjoy a Greek vacation</h3>
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When you travel abroad or even in the United States many times it is a learning experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently we traveled to Greece the land of my ancestors. I had always wanted to visit Greece and this past Christmas my husband gifted me with a Greek vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now don’t get me wrong, I loved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were, however, parts of this Greek vacation that were not as pleasant as I had hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take that back, I expected some bumps, but I think we discovered there are other ways to do the same things with less of a bumpy road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what follows are my suggestions for possibly a few less bumps. As the saying goes forewarned is forearmed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Book it yourself. We opted to go with a travel agency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They booked our flights, our hotels, and our transportation from one island to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This vacation was booked 6 months in advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the next time I will choose to book my own flights, transportation, and hotels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you book things that far in advance even as a private person you can get the most reasonable rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check the airline. Our scheduled itinerary was to fly to London on British Airways, then after a short layover, fly to Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to bash any airlines but the plane we were on was old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I mean old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seats were crammed as close as possible and since the travel agency booked the flight we had the worst seats on the plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no windows in the same zip code and we were situated right by the bathroom.<br />
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3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check the airline amenities. Our short layover turned into several hours (Not the airlines fault) and the second flight, which was 3 ½ hours didn’t even offer a soft drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flight attendants blocked the aisles with their credit card machines for people to pay for drinks or a light lunch for quite some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one could even walk down the aisles to visit the restroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they finally reached us, they were out of everything except some foul couscous lunch salad that after two bites we promptly tossed in the trash.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Arriving in Athens</h4>
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4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use local transportation when necessary. We finally, reached Athens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our hotel was nice in the center of the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could see the Acropolis from the roof and as anyone who ever looked off into the distance from atop a building, it looked a lot closer than it really was. While it wouldn’t be considered walking distance to the Acropolis, we opted to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8 miles, we walked, but it was totally worth the walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For anyone who has issues walking, I suggest taking a bus or a taxi. <o:p></o:p></div>
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5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steer clear of ferries if you have extra money. On the following day (we did lose a day with the flying) we were to board a ferry to the first of our island. The hotel was nice enough to provide us with a bagged lunch. The ferry has assigned airplane style seats? And, they were, of course, the worst seats on the boat. <o:p></o:p></div>
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4 ½ hours later we arrived in Mikonos. Mikonos was a beautiful island and our hotel was fantastic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grounds were lovely with plants and flowers galore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pool was relaxing with a bar right there for refreshments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The included breakfast was typical Greek fare and very good. Why such a wonderful hotel? Even a broken clock is right once a day. (Not exactly breakfast items but Greeks don’t usually eat breakfast, which you may read about in a previous post)<o:p></o:p></div>
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6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Book your own hotels. After our stay in Mikonos were continued on our way to Santorini. Yes, another ferry, that took several hours with the worst seats on the pretty empty boat! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, the hotel in Santorini was the worst hotel on the trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, it was the worst hotel I have ever had the unpleasant opportunity to endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no chair in the room, only a bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bathroom was so small that you had to hold the sink while you used the toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shower was probably 2 foot by 2 foot and the shower curtain would stick to you when you showered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water overflowed but they, fortunately, had a drain in the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Camping with Girl scouts, I’ve been in outhouses in the woods that were way nicer than this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow that the travel agency would use that hotel!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greece is not known for its great breakfasts but this one with its stale bread, canned fruit and yogurt was by far the worst!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a positive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has to be some positive right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was close to the main drive in Santorini and the Wi-Fi worked better than all the other hotels!!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skip the extra 4 hours to Oia unless you have a lot of extra time but be sure and visit Akrotiri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santorini was beautiful as was Mikonos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a tour of the island, which was totally worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We paid the extra money to go to Oia to view the sunset, which I would suggest you forego.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The extra 4 hours to not see a sunset due to cloud cover was exhausting and I think a sunset from any part of this island would be just as beautiful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Officially I will never take another ferry I don’t care how much cheaper it is! So our time in Santorini came to an end. The time had come to, yes, board another ferry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time we were to return to Athens where our flight would be leaving the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at least 12 hours by ferry and we didn’t arrive at our hotel till almost midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worst seats on the boat, yet again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did we learn from this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time is money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your time is worth money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t take a ferry if at all possible, even if it costs a little more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick search and I discover some flights start at only $35 for a 35-minute flight one-way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not too horrible when you consider the comfort and time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, seeing as everything is booked 6 months in advance, I can’t imagine if you did these bookings yourself it wouldn’t have been a lot better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could choose your hotels, your flights and seats, and your tours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do it yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, I loved Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved every part of Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too bad I didn’t have the time to enjoy more of Greece. I hate to use another old saying but-- if you want something done right, do it yourself!<o:p></o:p></div>
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10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pack some tissues and washcloths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forgot to mention, no hotels where we stayed had tissues or washcloths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may want to pack some!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-22720487042417390452017-07-19T11:54:00.000-07:002017-07-19T11:56:04.436-07:00What is that old saying about owning a boat?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CoPgLuRG5Tc/WW-qPldg4qI/AAAAAAAAOP4/oZ6NqkbKnQYKNSwE6TdldbmN36-AV6pkwCKgBGAs/s1600/belmont%2Band%2Bfredericksburg%252C%2Bhorse%2Bshow%2Bjune%2B2007%2B031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CoPgLuRG5Tc/WW-qPldg4qI/AAAAAAAAOP4/oZ6NqkbKnQYKNSwE6TdldbmN36-AV6pkwCKgBGAs/s320/belmont%2Band%2Bfredericksburg%252C%2Bhorse%2Bshow%2Bjune%2B2007%2B031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There is an old saying about owning a boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The happiest days of a man’s life is the day he buys a boat, and the day he sells it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My poor husband a living reminder of the truth in that adage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, he hasn’t sold his boat as yet, but he sure is thinking about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If you’ve read my blog you know that I am basically an indoor girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially in the hot and humid Virginia summers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I’ve gone out on the boat with him many times, it was never fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s too bumpy to read, and bumps, as you know relocate parts of one’s body to places they should not be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The scenery starts to look the same as if you’ve already been through that area before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The river water doesn’t smell pleasant and is a greenish hue. So whenever I’d go out on the boat with him, I’d count the minutes till I return. Don’t judge, indoor girl, remember? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now the first couple of years the boat worked like a charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then things went south, way south. First, it didn’t like the gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, parts of the boat started to break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doo-dads and thingamajigs with odd sounding names were gunked, stuck or just not working. Poor husband spent more time hunched over an open engine in searing heat than getting a tan on the deck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And last year, first time out, the boat conked out about a mile from shore making this high tech motor boat basically a rowboat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So he had high hopes this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fixed the carburetor; one of many repairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, the little engine that once could, couldn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So more parts came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And still, the boat was basically a land yacht. So as a last resort he checked the gas and it seems the gas just isn’t what it should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now he has to remove all the gas and replace it with good gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then we will see…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Until such time as this boat becomes sea-worthy again, I will sit in the air conditioning and read my books without getting motion sickness. And I will pray, if only for husband’s sake that it will be ready before the first snowfall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For Vincent a personalized limerick:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There once was a man from up north<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Who wanted his boat to go forth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He hammered and oiled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But alas he was foiled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 14.0pt;">No sailing to be henceforth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-56602257896574356232017-07-04T07:30:00.000-07:002017-07-06T16:41:05.506-07:00The ultimate Greek dilemma, What no breakfast?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H3mZTIGiEPE/WVukUP-jqGI/AAAAAAAAOOs/mTpMHcTZwr8MxZ8jH8GnveU40G04KHyfACLcBGAs/s1600/Santorini%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Breakfast in Greece" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H3mZTIGiEPE/WVukUP-jqGI/AAAAAAAAOOs/mTpMHcTZwr8MxZ8jH8GnveU40G04KHyfACLcBGAs/s400/Santorini%2B1.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santorini</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Recently I visited Greece on vacation, and found out
something I always vaguely knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greeks
don’t eat breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an old
joke about breakfast in Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say
a Greek breakfast is basically a cigarette and coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband being of Irish descent is a lover
of all things breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would be
happy eating breakfast, morning, noon, night and even midnight snack!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I never could get around the ridged food list that makes up
breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What law saws breakfast must
contain, bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes, or hash browns? God forbid there be
pizza in there unless of course it has bacon and eggs on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually while husband munches on some crispy
bacon and scrambled eggs I eat leftover Chinese food cold from a box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess I never subscribed to what you are
supposed to do at breakfast.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So I knew there would a culture clash when we went to
Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of our hotels included a
buffet breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This breakfast consisted of olives, feta, Greek yogurt, fruits, spinach and cheese pies,
homemade breads and usually a tray labeled bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bacon it seems, in Greece, is masquerading as
ham. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
A Chronology of Breakfast time</h3>
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<br /></div>
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So the first day, poor hubby sat there looking lost while I
chowed down on olives and other non-breakfast type foods. He drank a cup of
watered down American type filter coffee and waited for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On the second day, he repeated his actions of the first day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On the third day, he tried a little of the fresh bread and
complained there was no toaster, but he did go back for seconds, buttering each
piece with a generous slab of fresh butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He tried the bacon (ham) and some cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tried some Greek coffee and fresh (yes
fresh) squeezed orange juice. Was that the hint of a smile playing with the corners of his mouth?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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On the fourth day he ate with gusto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tried the thick creamy Greek yogurt with
fig spread, feta, and some warm fresh baked breads and pastries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made himself some Greek coffee, and had
the fresh squeezed juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had finally come to
terms with breaking the rules and traditions of breakfast law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He found out there was no breakfast
police.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when in Rome, Athens, or
Mykonos, you do as the romans or Greeks do. He even said, "Poli kalO" (Which means very good) when asked how it was by a waiter. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? No bacon?</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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I am not a fan of fast food but riding on the ferry for our
8 hour return trip to Athens I ate the only food available on the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(It ate at was what I am sure they viewed as an
American style burger stand) I innocently ordered a bacon cheeseburger and
opening this sad little sandwich I saw the bland piece of ham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yup-- no bacon in Greece.<o:p></o:p><br />
<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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08169c1PbLg/WVukUFln68I/AAAAAAAAOO4/ckzTzmq4ym4gvE2MVew-TbEB0GHXE3iMQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Santorini%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-08169c1PbLg/WVukUFln68I/AAAAAAAAOO4/ckzTzmq4ym4gvE2MVew-TbEB0GHXE3iMQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Santorini%2B2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greek Orthodox Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ksw_EhTPN9M/WVukUINvwLI/AAAAAAAAOOo/EwV76kmNUZII8IaAIqHflOj7Rq6tsR-LACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Santorini%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="611" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ksw_EhTPN9M/WVukUINvwLI/AAAAAAAAOOo/EwV76kmNUZII8IaAIqHflOj7Rq6tsR-LACPcBGAYYCw/s320/Santorini%2B3.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfqRYk24xLs/WVukUf6sZLI/AAAAAAAAOOw/daTGXaDVG8EP_l-tWgBsIvVvT_Vz6tzEwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Santorini%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfqRYk24xLs/WVukUf6sZLI/AAAAAAAAOOw/daTGXaDVG8EP_l-tWgBsIvVvT_Vz6tzEwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Santorini%2B5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red beach in Santorini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-79127397632541147832017-06-24T10:56:00.000-07:002017-06-24T10:56:26.494-07:00Grecian cats--no, not a new, travel version of the musical<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K01HX_PkmOs/WU6j0PuZUJI/AAAAAAAAON4/lj5Ah_7LGwsb5p00lbCEPi_N19SkHDI7QCLcBGAs/s1600/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K01HX_PkmOs/WU6j0PuZUJI/AAAAAAAAON4/lj5Ah_7LGwsb5p00lbCEPi_N19SkHDI7QCLcBGAs/s320/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The interloper</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During my recent trip to Greece I came in contact with cats,
a lot of cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick Google search
reveals that most Greeks feel that cats are not exactly house pets, but a wild
species best left to their own devices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a result they wander the streets and ancient ruins with pretty much
no human interference.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even we Americans know that one doesn’t own a cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cat owns us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a cat wants something, it gets it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the while plotting their happy little
owner’s demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we come home from
work the dog greets us with gusto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
jumps, yelps, and licks while his tail wags at 100 miles an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cat, on the other hand, stands aloof, as
if to reprimand us for not being at her disposal all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She may, if it suits her, decide to saunter
by and rub against our legs; simply to piss off the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear her purr and we imagine it is for us,
which in all reality may not be the case. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grecian cats strolled around many of the outdoor restaurants
and cafes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They sunned themselves on
walls and threaded their way through the crowded streets full of multi national
tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most looked well fed and
fairly healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were not pets but
not exactly what we Americans would call feral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They lay beside humans and begged with only their presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who but a local could refuse their enormous
staring eyes? These cats have perfected the art of begging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They remind me of the squirrels and chipmunks
in National parks that know just what cute little tricks to do to get the goofy
human to toss them a few nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband who fancies himself a Dr. Dolittle tried to pet a
docile looking black and white cat lounging on a path and was put in his place
with a quick swat of the paw. That’ll teach you, lesson learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not house cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Evenings in Greece are beautiful, cool and comfortable not
even requiring an air conditioner, and there are very few bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as we went out to dinner in one of the
many outdoor cafes, we chose to leave the windows to our hotel room open. Do you see
where I am going with this?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Returning to our room after a delicious dinner, we turned on
the lights and proceeded to get ready for bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A strange sound was coming from the sofa, and, to our surprise we saw a
large ginger cat casually using the back of the couch as a scratching
post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just stared, and not the sweet
large eyed, begging stare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a look
that said we were the intruders and it was standing it’s ground. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shaken, I turned to my husband with a look that said, “What
should we do?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>Should we call the desk?" Or do we just wait and see if it’s friendly?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My husband tiptoed over to the door, and opened it. (Not really sure why he tiptoed since the cat already saw us and they can't fly) Then he comically deepened his
voice and said, “SHOO.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shoo?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was steadily becoming a cartoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I almost expected Jerry from Tom and Jerry to jump out from behind the
sofa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband repeated his shooing while ridiculously flailing his arms. The cat jumped off the sofa and casually,
with a regal toss of it’s head, walked out the front door, but not before I
snapped his pic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe the Greeks have it right after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cats should just be left to their own
devices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can use people when they
want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can walk around like they own
the place, because in their minds they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And nature can take care of the rest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl6Qfv-2axQ/WU6j965NNBI/AAAAAAAAON8/XH69ym_URrgsVJWPUxYZuklpI5yeFZP6ACLcBGAs/s1600/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Grecian cats and Mykonos" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl6Qfv-2axQ/WU6j965NNBI/AAAAAAAAON8/XH69ym_URrgsVJWPUxYZuklpI5yeFZP6ACLcBGAs/s320/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos%2B2.jpg" title="Our beautiful hotel in Mykonos" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beauty of Greece</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1baLrxrg6Bg/WU6j99klhFI/AAAAAAAAOOA/9CBFqbM4OJEwWR54BU-Jh_U9bEgrlSNpACLcBGAs/s1600/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1baLrxrg6Bg/WU6j99klhFI/AAAAAAAAOOA/9CBFqbM4OJEwWR54BU-Jh_U9bEgrlSNpACLcBGAs/s320/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos%2B3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4eXxFigDZLA/WU6j9y1m2fI/AAAAAAAAOOE/kA6QcuU3rRg-H_eZIXDAuzWgrdL6xIepACLcBGAs/s1600/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4eXxFigDZLA/WU6j9y1m2fI/AAAAAAAAOOE/kA6QcuU3rRg-H_eZIXDAuzWgrdL6xIepACLcBGAs/s320/Grecian%2Bcats%2Band%2BMykonos%2B4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful hotel in Mykonos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-70567777194310735222017-06-20T06:42:00.000-07:002017-06-20T06:42:27.549-07:00What will be the most common names in the next century?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQuiGKjF4wY/WUklTx7Qh5I/AAAAAAAAONo/FIcz6bW5vo0vyEVqgeLDVu7UWHcxZZHhwCLcBGAs/s1600/Santorini%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQuiGKjF4wY/WUklTx7Qh5I/AAAAAAAAONo/FIcz6bW5vo0vyEVqgeLDVu7UWHcxZZHhwCLcBGAs/s320/Santorini%2B4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greece the name of the destination</td></tr>
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Today or rather, tonight I’d like to talk about names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I type, I sit in a darkened airplane on my
way over the ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>London is the
destination on my way to a vacation in Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is 12:26 in the morning and, as I look around in the darkness, I feel
like the last living cell in a dead body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean no one is awake!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relax; my
Vincent Price imitation is over it’s just a little creepy in a dark plane at
this hour of the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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All is calm…and then eek, turbulence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I make a few typos I hope you understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My partner in crime, and life, is sleeping
like a baby next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t get
how someone can sleep so happily sitting upright in a chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean this coach seat is no Laz-Z-Boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My knees rest up against the seat in front of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, he snores and clutches the
scratchy military type blanket up to his chin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sweet dreams my love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I did say I was going to discuss names, but I digress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am an 8-hour a night gal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I get less than that my brain goes into
hibernation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ask my name in few
hours I might not even remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So…here
we go back to names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Have you ever noticed how some names go through stages of
popularity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, when did Brittany
unseat Bertha?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it must have been
around the same time that Joshua was doing the same thing to Melvin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One wonders, if, in 2049 will Brittany sound
as outdated as Ethel and Myrtle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously don’t you think we have enough Jessica’s and Jennifer’s in the
world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t it be refreshing to come
across an Irma or Eunice?<o:p></o:p></div>
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My mom, however, bucked tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She named me Crystal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was growing up my name was as rare as
a three-dollar bill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was not
another Crystal in sight! <o:p></o:p></div>
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All through school I spent my life repeating, spelling, and
then repeating again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been known as
Krystal, Cristal, Kristil, Chrystal, and Christal. I’d plead and spell
C-r-y-s-t-a-l!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, I’d give up
and just say I was named for the fine crystal glassware my mother drank her
champagne out of the night I was conceived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The teachers would peg me as troublemaker and spell it the way they
wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own grandmother never spelled
my name correctly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’d take my check
for five dollars made out to Krystal and thank her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why fight it?<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s 2017 and now you can’t swing a dead cat (meaning it’s
everywhere) where I don’t run into a Crystal somewhere!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean even Hugh Hefner was engaged to a
Crystal Harris, and boy did my blog blow up when they broke up!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn’t have enough fun trying to get my name across to
people when I was growing up so I had to go and marry an Ogle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ogle, just like the word that means to stare
at in a leering way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four simple letters
and I’ve had to spell it thousands of times!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>O-g-l-e.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How hard is that?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my second marriage I married a Donnelly, you know the sweet
slumbering fellow snoring next to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
it’s not Donelli, Irish, not Italian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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You know I once dated a guy whose last name was
Diamond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, if we had continued to
date, and, happened to marry, my name would have been Crystal Diamond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, tell me with a straight face that doesn’t
sound like a stripper or a porn star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank god that didn’t work out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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3 hours and 53 minutes to destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-22173982162106376562017-05-29T06:55:00.000-07:002017-05-29T06:55:36.430-07:00What happens when a land-lover goes boating<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ1-YKy3qsI/WSXWdkMmKSI/AAAAAAAAOKI/sVfY-fD404oMZDiNYD2003AQqDbIRHA7wCLcB/s1600/Soda%2Bcan%2Bsailboat%2B-%2B19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ1-YKy3qsI/WSXWdkMmKSI/AAAAAAAAOKI/sVfY-fD404oMZDiNYD2003AQqDbIRHA7wCLcB/s320/Soda%2Bcan%2Bsailboat%2B-%2B19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I admit that I am an unapologetic land lover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband on the other hand lives and dies
for boating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I go, unless I can find
someone else who will take my place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So after the first few years or our marriage, I encouraged
him to live his boating dream and buy a pleasure boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck I even went to the coast guard class
with him that had me longing for my boring college history professor’s
lectures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, my requisite
handbook is full of doodles of dozing women and eager men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I passed with flying colors because if
nothing else I’m a good at cramming information in a locker in my head that I
will never again open or need.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So when we go out on the marina that is near our home
husband dear wades into greenish water that could contain all sorts of
pathogens to launch the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wait on
the shore until it is ready and I can jump off the dock and into the boat unscathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smell of the brackish water is not
exactly gag inducing but not particularly pleasant either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course there are always a few bloated fish
floating along the perimeter of the boat. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I can swim but I won't be in the olympics any time soon. And my husband swears that this boat is unsinkable. Hmmm-- isn't that what they said about the Titanic?</div>
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For some reason it’s always windy out on the water, and I’m
not a fan of hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if I was they
would most likely end up in the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hair is rather long and fine and the knots
are impossible to get out without half a head of hair coming out with it. So I get a hat
that has a string that tightens around the neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It kind of resembles a little kid’s cowboy hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tuck all my hair in the hat and tighten
the string.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t think I will make my
debut in a fashion magazine, but it beats going bald from yanking out knots.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then we head off, slow at first, until we pass the go
ahead buoy where you are allowed to hit the gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I vaguely remember from my coast guard class that
when you encounter a wave you have to angle the boat to cross it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband, however, likes to take the bull by the
horns and hit-em full force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now being a
woman, I have women parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when one
hits a wave head on like this it forces those two parts to bounce uncontrollably and painfully! If you are not holding on to them it can black both your eyes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And did you get the part that it hurts like the dickens?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he throttles back
at my insistence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We move on at a slower pace and then decide to anchor awhile
while we fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our boat seats at least
6, but it doesn’t have a head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you
may ask is a head?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s what seafarers
call a bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so we have another
dilemma that men don’t have. We have no choice but to head
back to the marina so I can use a porta potty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t use porta potties unless it is a strict emergency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's an emergency. </span>So after the pit stop we return to the water. This time I restrict my liquid intake and my thirst is kicking in since it is pretty hot, but we are pretty far from the shore now so I'm not taking any chances. There is an irony about floating on water (even slimy green water) when you are just about dying of thirst.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sun beats
down on us even with the top up as it reflects off the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I mention that I sunburn at even the
slightest exposure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We anchor and fish a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We catch a few, mostly we throw them back because the only thing less fun than being stuck on a boat is cleaning fish. After a hour or so we head for home. Land ho! As we dock my husband is smiling from ear to ear, happy and
sun kissed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me-- I’m surveying my
reddened face and legs thinking that I will be applying Aloe Vera for the next
few days as I sprint to the porta potty.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
And so another day on the water comes to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only hope that someone will take my
place the next time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">For a land-loving boating diversion why not hop on over to my crafting blog and follow the tutorial to make a wiggle sailboat magnet from a recycled soda can. (which I didn't drink on the boat) </span></div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.makeiteasycrafts.com/2017/05/how-to-make-wiggle-sailboat-magnet-for.html">Wiggle sailboat tutorial</a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span></div>
Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-23818697876027803872017-04-27T08:04:00.000-07:002017-04-27T19:37:21.409-07:00Have you ever been caught in a lone star dilemma?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vb1wfw2RYLY/WQIIIrURATI/AAAAAAAAOEU/FoLjWuqmGo4SLHM5IaW36RTPAcLyxawCwCLcB/s1600/lone%2Bstar%2Btick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vb1wfw2RYLY/WQIIIrURATI/AAAAAAAAOEU/FoLjWuqmGo4SLHM5IaW36RTPAcLyxawCwCLcB/s320/lone%2Bstar%2Btick.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok so maybe the heading is a little confusing, but I'll get to the dilemma in a minute. First a little background information. Years ago when I visited Texas I noticed how
proud everyone was of the state flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lone star flag was proudly on display just about everywhere. When I asked about it I was brusquely told to get with the program, It's the lone star state.<br />
<br />
Today I had my dilemma (Told you I'd get to it) brought on by a tiny little bug called a lone star tick. I
am wondering if those proud Texans are aware of the lone star tick, a creepy, crawly, and
vampire-like insect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fair the name
does not refer to Texas and this bug does not originate in Texas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only bears that name due to the prominent
white spot on it’s back that resembles a star. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now I'd like to mention that I am basically an indoor type girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like the summer heat and while I
enjoy walking and hiking at times, I stick to the well-defined paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So after </span>four days of steady pouring rain and
me barely walking off the porch it caught me completely by surprise that somehow a lone star tick decided I would be a
tasty treat. I mean seriously my husband constantly works in the yard, mowing, trimming bushes and trees and has never, ever had a tick. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Growing up in rural Virginia and owning many pets, I’ve seen
ticks before. This, however, is my first encounter with a lone star tick.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
So yesterday, I felt an itch on my lower back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It felt like a tiny lump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
twisted and turned and tried to get a better view. It is virtually impossible to twist in that way at my age. Heck it's hard to do that at any age unless you do a heck of a lot of yoga. I was, however, starting to think that it might be a tick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ewwwww!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are saying
that and believe me I was too!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I dug in the magic Hermione Granger like sack I call a purse and came up with a magnifying glass. Still no luck. I searched my purse for a mirror and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I t</span>ried to get a better look with the reflection, and I bombed on that as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was coming to the conclusion that in order to identify what was
causing the itch I had to work in a circus as the amazing rubber woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was situated in just a spot that was really
hard to get a handle on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And I was at work. </span>I was ready to
close the store and head to the doctors when luckily a familiar female customer
came in the store and I explained the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She offered to take a look.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She looked and, yes, it was a tick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a pair of tweezers from my purse (Told you it was a magic bag) and she promptly removed the offending
insect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is when we noticed the
white dot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to Google, we quickly identified the Lone star tick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately it doesn’t carry Lyme disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does, however, carry a disease that is a bit unsettling. And I had to check it twice to see if I read it right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The lone star tick can cause an allergy to red meat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you kidding me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That had to be a misprint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let me get this straight. I will never be able to eat a burger, have
a steak or a pork chop ever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of all the
off the wall things in this world a tiny insect that can cause a person to be
allergic to meat!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After a little more research I found that evidently it is true. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, though, I don’t eat a lot of red meat, but
making it a big giant taboo makes it all the more desirable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Still,</span> not every tick is a carrier and It couldn’t have
been in me for very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So I guess it's just wait and see. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I visited the
doctor that very afternoon and got a prescription for antibiotic salve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So unless I develop this life-threatening
allergy to meat, I will go on a little older and wiser, imagine something crawling on me every second, and continue to be indoor
girl. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-41267796353627339952017-04-03T12:06:00.000-07:002017-04-03T12:11:34.317-07:00When it comes to food what are your least favorite vegetables?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So when it comes to food what are your favorite
vegetables?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you have favorites,
it stands to reason you will also have those that you detest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my particular case I love almost all vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two, however, that I have never
been able to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My veggie nemeses are
beets and cooked carrots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know
why but something happens to a carrot when it is cooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eaten raw, they area crisp, sweet, and
tasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cooked, well I wont 't into detail but
in my case they are definitely unpleasant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And this distaste has been the bane of my existence since I
was a tiny tot in a high chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad
tells me that we were the only house in the neighborhood that had walls
decorated in chunks of orange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why they
continued to try and feed me strained carrots I can only blame on my
pediatrician.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are good for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get it, but how much good is it
when they are splattered on floors, walls and unsuspecting passers by?<o:p></o:p></div>
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So I assume my parents eventually had to give up feeding me
carrots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always thinking of good
nutrition, they moved on to beets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let
me say that while carrots on clothing, walls, and more are not exactly pleasant;
beets on the other hand, have been used for centuries to dye many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And back when I was a tot, they didn’t have
the heavy duty stain removers of today!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Recently, at a restaurant I ordered roasted vegetables since
the regular vegetable mix contained carrots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much to my surprise the roasted ones had a considerable amount of
beets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Never thought about asking if
they were part of the mix)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 40
years, I put on my big girl pants and tried a beet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought and I did eat
about 1/3 of them before I lost my steam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still, while they weren’t as detestable as imagined, I seriously doubt
that I will be going out and buying beets for home meals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So I will still pick out the cooked carrots from soups,
stews, potpies, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll set them
on the side of the plate in a lonely pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll toss them to the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
will never serve them to my poor carrot-loving husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will just have to wait to order them from
a restaurant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And while we are at it what are your favorite and least
favorite fruits?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmmmm well, I can’t
stand the taste of mangoes, but that discussion is best left for another post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what are your favorite vegetables?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-49667093924148386612017-02-27T17:15:00.000-08:002017-03-01T06:03:06.709-08:00Decide which scent is good for you...or not<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxn8CzHJOOE/WLTO2Y-6xeI/AAAAAAAAN60/0l-ngI4mca45GdHIEnVNeEyqoPGWUfjtQCLcB/s1600/perfumes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxn8CzHJOOE/WLTO2Y-6xeI/AAAAAAAAN60/0l-ngI4mca45GdHIEnVNeEyqoPGWUfjtQCLcB/s320/perfumes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Let’s talk about scents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exhibit A: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever walked in an enclosed area and a woman walks
in absolutely reeking of a strong perfume? And when she has passed her aroma
lingers basically using up any usable oxygen in the vicinity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that the scent is bad per se.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just that it is simply
overpowering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could be worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be B.O.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exhibit B: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One time my husband and I entered a restaurant and there was
a man sitting in the booth behind us, pretty much smelling of a body odor
reminiscent of a rotting animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
odor so cloying it was definitely not conducive to enjoying dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as to not hurt anyone’s feelings we sipped
our beverages and then asked for the check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exhibit C:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An old boyfriend decided to give me some perfume for
Christmas one year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, I must admit I
was basically a starry eyed young woman and I wouldn’t dare tell him that his
choice was not my style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact the
scent to my senses, was a bit nauseating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So what did I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore till I stopped retching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say that relationship ended
because, seriously, can you really end up with someone who buys perfume you
absolutely can’t stand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least give me
credit for trying, and throwing away whatever clothing still had remnants of
the foul smelling fumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exhibit D:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a huge section of gifted perfumes, colognes, and
sprays that sit unused and unwanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s my island of lost scents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of them are food type aromas, like strawberry, cookie dough, and chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong. I love
strawberries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I adore chocolate, but I
just can’t get beyond smelling like something from the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those scents are fine as an air freshener in
the kitchen or dining room but not on me. Besides, if I were to walk around smelling like fresh baked cookies, I probably would tend to want fresh baked cookies and my diet would go to hell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last winter my husband put one of those scent bulbs in the
dining room. I believe it was a beach themed scent, perhaps they were going for stray cats on the beach? Anyway, I spent an hour trying to figure out
where the pee smell was coming from. Surely my little dog couldn't have had an accident somewhere in the room! And then I finally figured out it wasn’t my innocent little fur ball. It was the air freshener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I tossed the offending bulb and changed it to gingerbread cookie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And all of a sudden everything was right with the world. It smelled like cookies in the dinning room. </span>See where I am going with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Beach aromas don't belong in a dining room. (In my opinion they don't belong in any room) And, f</span>ood smells don’t belong on a body, well not
on mine anyway. They belong in the dining room!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exhibit E:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I admit I’m a little quirky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For years, whenever I’d get a whiff of the faint aroma of a skunk, I
would think, well that doesn’t smell that bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What is the issue? Not that I would ever wear Eau de Pepe le Pew. So fast-forward
to last Sunday when we took a drive several hours away to visit our son in
Delaware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way home the lightless back road was dark,
horror movie dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And husband dear must
have run over a recently dead skunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
smell that permeated our car almost had me contemplating escaping the stench by
grabbing the door handle to eject myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Never have I experienced something so potent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That skunk must have had a stink gland that
was over loaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway after about 30
miles, driving with the window down in 28-degree weather, the odor inside the car dissipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight when I went into the garage to get in the car, guess
what greeted me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disgustingly
familiar aroma of skunk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband
said, “it must be on the undercarriage, but never fear, it will wear off!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I gag myself into the refuge of the house,
I wonder how I ever thought skunk, wasn’t so bad. So I quickly googled "how to get rid of skunk odor on a car," and quite a bit of intensive steps are suggested. He still says it will go away...<o:p></o:p></div>
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My point is this…to each his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One man’s scented flower is another man’s
skunk, and vice versa!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Do you have scent preferences? I'd love to get your input!</div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-75516852364383908752017-02-03T08:06:00.000-08:002017-02-03T08:06:36.239-08:00Can age make a sweet dog cantankerous and mean?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4-ZOEM81IY/WJSoJt-1qrI/AAAAAAAAN2w/RotOjqQN_58Z1Jni5cXPuQxN91r-pNiJACLcB/s1600/maddy%2Bcollar.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sweet dog" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4-ZOEM81IY/WJSoJt-1qrI/AAAAAAAAN2w/RotOjqQN_58Z1Jni5cXPuQxN91r-pNiJACLcB/s320/maddy%2Bcollar.jpeg" title="" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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When talking about dogs do you think that age can make a
formerly sweet dog cantankerous and mean?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everyone has a story about the mean old man or lady at the
end of the street that turns the water hose on kids who inadvertently step on
their grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve all run from them at
one time or another. Many of us have been the recipients of a tongue lashing
from an aging neighbor who used to smile whenever we would retrieve our
baseballs from their flower gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
then, it changed. Our baseballs slowly rot in their yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We just chuck it up to age making them a little bit meaner
and we steer clear of their paths. But do sweet dogs who used to lick everyone
within their reach suddenly become just like that crabby neighbor?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My dog, Maddy is a perky little Jack Russell terrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was never the lovey dovey type, per
se.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maddy is 13 going on 14. In human
years the early teens are an age when children get a bit harder to handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it seems plausible, in dog year’s she
is more akin to my grandmother. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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As Maddy ages, however, her crankiness reaches new heights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t misunderstand me; her energy level
hasn’t decreased one iota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just
that sometimes her energy will propel her to chase after a Great Dane on a
walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it a death wish?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope, it’s just that she’s a grumpy old
lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t you dare disturb her naptime,
grrrrr!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Honestly she is mostly all bark and if she were human she
would be wearing dentures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wonder
if there is something to the grumpy old man or woman thing even in the canine
world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Do you have an older dog that is getting grouchier than
usual?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-78589935424355035982017-01-17T09:20:00.001-08:002017-01-17T09:23:20.813-08:00Not a fan of drowning in rainy days and Mondays?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ok, so it’s no secret I’m not a fun of rainy days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday, eh I can take them or leave them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rainy days, however, are my biggest downer for any day of the week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I guess when I was a kid I didn’t mind rain as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jumping in puddles was kind of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t care if my hair got frizzy; because with those goofy bangs my mother insisted on I already hated my hair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mud was fun for all sorts of things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could make mud pies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could mold it into bowls and critters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was so much fun to squish it through your toes in the summertime.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When it was hot you could go out and play in the rain and it was better than a pool or a hose because the rain was just the right amount of cold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then I grew up…<o:p></o:p></div>
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I no longer hate my hair and rain with its accompanying humidity makes it frizzy, which makes me hate my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mud holds no fascination anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically I look at mud as something I have to clean up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve cleaned up my lifetime quota of projectile vomit, diaper contents, various multi colored spills, and of course, mud.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Although squishy mud once held my fascination, a squishy yard is just annoying and gets mud all over my expensive shoes. (See clean up above)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I may not be the best cook in the world but I think my apple pies would win over mud pies any day of the week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So there you have it, my many reasons for disliking the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heck with April showers, when it’s been raining here so many days that I can’t even count them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I don’t understand since I don’t live in Seattle or London, but lately Virginia has become one with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other day I pulled up precipitation map, and I noticed that right smack in the middle of my little slice of Virginia, was a blue spot for lots of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’m wondering when I’ll see the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the sun, better known as a dermatologist’s nightmare.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-67559740225892294562016-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:002016-12-31T08:00:20.619-08:00What do you do about the island of unwanted Christmas gifts?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQLptEkRZUQ/WGfVi3f5hVI/AAAAAAAANww/E-rjccY07wY9x6vGOF9OWUleX0VVqeO2gCLcB/s1600/island%2Bof%2Bunwanted%2Bgifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQLptEkRZUQ/WGfVi3f5hVI/AAAAAAAANww/E-rjccY07wY9x6vGOF9OWUleX0VVqeO2gCLcB/s1600/island%2Bof%2Bunwanted%2Bgifts.jpg" /></a></div>
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Each Christmas well-meaning friends and relatives purchase a vast amount of gifts that are neither wanted or used. Where do these unwanted Christmas gifts end up? Well, in my house they end up in a pile in the basement. I call it the island of lost and unwanted gifts. Every so often I re-gift. Yeah I know re-gifting is tacky. And I would never re-gift a gaudy faux jewel encrusted box to someone who I knew wouldn't like it. So I occasionally take a trip to the local Goodwill store. After all you can take it off your taxes and donating feels good. <br />
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Gift cards are easy. There are a ton of websites where a non-athletic person can trade a sporting goods gift card for, say, a Starbucks. Another option is to sell gift cards you will never use. Sure you get less than the face value, but it's better than sitting in a drawer for all eternity. Be careful, however, and make sure the website is legitimate.<br />
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This year my husband received a virtual reality viewer. He's in his 60's. People in their sixties aren't interested in sitting in a room with a pendulous contraption strapped to their heads to look at scenery and such. Although television commercials would have you believe otherwise, people of that age are more into real reality. They go outside. They ride roller coasters. They experience real life.<br />
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I received a 1-inch square tile to attach to anything so that I can locate it via my phone. Granted I lose things. I get it. I'm a ditz. The thing I lose the most, however, is my phone. The second thing I lose are my glasses and a tile hanging from them would be annoying at the very least. And if I was the sort of person who wore those chains to keep them near at all times (which I don't) the problem of loss would be solved for $1.49.<br />
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I know gift giving is hard. But you would think it would be easier for adult children. So what follows is a gift giving guide for adult children-- for all occasions.<br />
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1. Don't give knick-knacks or other dust catchers. If they are old enough to be your parents, they have more than enough of those.<br />
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2. Don't give them something you would like. They are not in their 20's anymore.<br />
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3. Clothing is a big NO. Sizing is variable and do you really want to give your dad a jacket meant for a teenager in size XXL and have it still not fit?<br />
<br />
4. Don't give food. Maybe you are unaware that dad had a heart issue and you gave him a membership to a bacon of the month club.<br />
<br />
5. Jewelry is governed by taste and style. Stud earring for someone who only wears french hooks won't be worn. And a monogram bracelet for a dad who wouldn't be caught dead in anything other than a wedding band is not a great idea.<br />
<br />
6. Talk amongst your siblings if possible so your parents don't end up with 7 bird feeders.<br />
<br />
7. T-shirts with funny sayings or pictures. Enough said!<br />
<br />
8. Gift cards to places the intended recipient would never go. Steer clear of a cute gift shop 60 miles away. I don't like to tout stores, but Amazon can be used for many things and you can shop while you are in your pajamas.<br />
<br />
9. Restaurant cards are also not a super choice unless you are sure they love that restaurant. A seafood restaurant isn't cool for someone allergic to sea food and a burger joint would be in bad taste for a vegetarian.<br />
<br />
10. Details! Pay attention. If you mom hates pink don't buy her a pink scarf even if it is cashmere.<br />
<br />
So in conclusion it is really quite simple. If you want a great idea of what you can get your parents any time of the year, think outside the wrapped box. Memories are a great gift. Smiles and laughter go a long way to enliven the soul. Offers to help put away Christmas decorations or even help put them up before is so much more appreciated than skis. Take them out to dinner and enjoy time together. Spend time with them and call them often. Gift a gift of yourself. That is the best gift of all!</div>
Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5636758286078475071.post-21305820559119404562016-12-21T07:51:00.000-08:002016-12-24T19:59:24.878-08:00Where is the happy and jubilant Christmas magic?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2QHhZpwLvc/WFqkMFiJTdI/AAAAAAAANv8/5fBcChhEN4wXFZy8w5KWDVIPmmgTMAgjgCLcB/s1600/kuerig%2Bspill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Christmas magic" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d2QHhZpwLvc/WFqkMFiJTdI/AAAAAAAANv8/5fBcChhEN4wXFZy8w5KWDVIPmmgTMAgjgCLcB/s1600/kuerig%2Bspill.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinking coffee off the counter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s almost Christmas and I’m wondering where or where is
the happy and jubilant Christmas magic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stores are crowded, the roads are jammed, and we all have a list a
mile long before Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually I’m feeling a little guilty that I never
appreciated all the things my parents did to make Christmases so special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that I am a parent and my kids are adults
that just take everything for granted I’m feeling unappreciated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does anyone even notice that my husband and I work
non-stop?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they realize that we spent
days and days bringing boxes of Christmas stuff up from the basement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they see we decorate 2 large trees and two
small ones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would they even notice if we
didn’t do it?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does anyone see that I spent an entire evening addressing my
Christmas cards in calligraphy?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Baking cookies loses it’s homey magic at about midnight
after you spill an entire bottle of vanilla and look like a flour covered yeti.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christmas shopping becomes a chore instead of a labor of
love after you search for a parking space for an hour and then find one only to
have someone zip in before you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And lets not forget the lines where children are definitely
not watching out, but crying and pouting no matter who is coming to town.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And on Christmas day everyone just shows up and expects a
big dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bring their dogs and if
that dog has an accident—well, it wasn’t fluffy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geez I’m living in a rendition of a Christmas
vacation movie.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This morning after little sleep I got up and proceeded to
brew a cup of coffee in the Kuerig coffee maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oops, forgot to put the cup under it before I
pressed brew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever rush around looking
for a vacant cup while coffee is spilling all over the counter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I can tell you it’s not fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I soldier on and swear next year it will be
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And just when I am about to chuck the turkey on the front
lawn, I hear that someone received my Christmas card and loved the calligraphy
so much that they are keeping the envelope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It made them smile. It made them happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
So I guess the jubilant Christmas magic is not in the big
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not in the lights and work
and the gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s in the smiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s there; it’s just not as obvious anymore.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08824473397605172813noreply@blogger.com4